Custer, John S. died 1897

CUSTER, GOLZIG

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 9/19/2020 at 22:27:34

Elkader Register, Fri. morning, 17 Dec. 1897. Local Scrap Bag columns.

John S. Custer, or Golzig, a young man aged 29 years, died very suddenly Tuesday night at Fred Wilke's in this twp. It appears that Custer and young Fritz Wilke after working in the timber all day had started home for supper when they met Wm. Zeeland and Wm. Lenth in the road with a team. They invited Custer and the young man to drink from a jug, which contained either whiskey or alcohol. Custer refused at first, but finally consented and drank several times, and to such an extent that he soon laid down in the road. He was finally taken to the house when Mr. Wilke becoming alarmed at his condition sent to Elkader for a physician, but before he arrived Custer died. Coroner Scholz was notified and held an inquest, Drs. McGrath and Brownson having made a post mortem examination. C. W. Walser, William Roach and J. C. Powell served on the jury, which returned a sealed verdict. It was an unfortunate affair.