Koehler, Louis 1876 - 1914

KOEHLER, LINGARD

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 12/25/2019 at 11:59:34

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 15 Jan. 1914. Strawberry Point column.

New Year's Day Louis Koehler, who has resided on the Frank Newberry farm for the past year, committed suicide by hanging himself. It was his birthday and a number of relatives of the family had gone to his home to take dinner and spend the day. When dinner was ready there was not enough room at the first table for all and Mr. Koehler said he would wait. He was urged to sit down at the first table but was persistant in his refusal. Shortly after he put on his coat and left the house. Nothing strange was thought of this, however, as it was supposed that he was going to care for some of the stock. When the second table was ready he had not returned to the house and they could get no reply from him when they called. Some of the men then went to the barn to look for him and found him hanging to a beam in the hay loft. He had climbed to the beam, tied the trip rope of the hay fork about his neck and jumped off, falling a distance of about fifteen feet before he came to the end of the rope. Death was instantaneous. There seems to be no reason why he should have taken his own life. Louis Koehler was born in Richardville, Iowa, Jan. 1, 1876, and died at his home near Strawberry Point, Jan. 1, 1914, at the age of 38 years. He was united in marriage to Miss Thirsa Lingard, Nov. 30, 1898, In Dubuque, Ia., where they resided for fifteen years. In February, 1913, they removed to Strawberry Point, Iowa, where they resided until his death. He is survived by his wife and three children, Roy, Louie and Clara, also his father and three brothers and two sisters, who all reside in Dubuque County, Iowa.