Edward "Ed" Anderson 1859-1916

ANDERSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/4/2013 at 00:50:00

Took the Paris Green Route
Mr. Ed Anderson of High Lake township in a fit of despondency, drank a quart of diluted paris green Friday night while in Graettinger, and died from the effects of it in the Anderson hospital in this city Sunday [April 9, 1916], having been brought here Saturday for treatment.

Mr. Anderson has been a resident of Emmet county for over thirty years and was one of the county’s very best citizens. The past winter he has been living most of the time in Graettinger. The past month he had acted strangely and the last few days he was considered mentally unbalanced. The day before he drank the paris green Sheriff Nivlson was sent for to have him brought before the commission of insanity. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, April 12, 1916)

Tires of Trouble; Takes Paris Green
Died in Anderson Hospital at Estherville
Ill Health the Cause
Had Attempted Suicide Before
Regretted Act Too late for Recovery
Edward Anderson of Wallingford, died Sunday at the Anderson hospital in this city as a result of having taken a dose of paris green, with suicidal intent, at the L.B. Osher home near Wallingford onfriday of last week. Medical aid was not summoned for nearly ten hours after the fatal potion was taken and although he was rushed to the Anderson hospital here and every effort made to save his life the arsenic in the preparation had secured too strong a hold and it was impossible to save him.

The deceased has resided in Emmet county practically all of his life and was a mason and plasterer by trade. He owned a farm in Minnesota and it is thought that brooding over some difficulty experienced with his property and over his physical condition was the cause of his taking the poison.

He has been in ill health at different times in the past and for a while took treatment at a private sanitarium and once previously while dejected over his condition took a large dose of chloral, but his system threw off the poison and he lived.

After taking the paris green last Friday he said nothing to anyone for several hours but complained of being sick and upon the arrival of a physician he became worried about his condition and expressed fear as to the results, stating that he was sorry he had committed the act. It is thought that he took about one-third of a half pound package of the mixture.

The news of the rash act and death cane as a shock to the many friends in the county where he was always known and respected as a quiet law-abiding citizen, a true friend and a good neighbor.

The remains were taken from the hospital to the Mahlum & Anderson undertaking parlors, where they laid in state until today, when funeral services were held from the church at Wallingford at which point interment was made. – Estherville Democrat (Graettinger Times, Graettinger, IA, April 13, 1916)

The funeral of the late Ed Anderson was held from the Riverside church, Wednesday afternoon, April 12th. Interment was made in the High Lake cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, April 19, 1916)