Thomas J. Groth, died 1922

GROTH, DESART, BAUDER, JOHNSON, LOSH, BEERMAN, HADSEL, FALB, HUGHES, VAUGHN, GUNSTEN

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 2/16/2012 at 02:33:32

Sunday morning John L. and Ray DeSart went squirrel hunting east of town. They had crossed the Bauder farm and were on the Gust Johnson place in Clayton county, when in passing a clump of small trees at the top of a little knoll they discovered the body of a dead man lying in a bed of leaves. The man was lying face down and his gun, a 12-guage Winchester repeating shot gun, was lying on the ground some six feet from him. From the position of the body it was impossible to recognize the dead man. The DeSarts hurried to the Bauder home and from there telephoned Sheriff Geo. Losh of Elkader, and Coroner Beerman of Guttenberg. Dr. H.S. Hadsel, of our town was also notified, and after getting in communication with the officials of Clayton county, went to the place where the body was lying and upon making examination found that the body was that of T.J. Groth of our town.

There was a large wound in his left chest just above the heart where the whole charge of shot had entered, the glove on his left hand and his wrist were powder burned as was also the clothing around the wound in the chest. At the place where the tragedy occured there was little if any underbrush and the gound thereabouts bore no signs of a struggle. The body was frozen which was evidence that it had been lying there for some time. When these facts were learned the authorities ordered the body removed and undertaker Muehlethaler drove out and brought the remains to his home in town.

Sheriff Losh and Coroner Beerman were soon on the scene and impanneled a Coroner's jury comprised of John Falb, R.W. Hughes and George Vaughn. After viewing the body and hearing the evidence of the Messrs DeSart and Dr. Hadsel, which bore out the facts as above related, the jury rendered the following verdict [several ink obscured words] by a 12-guage shot gun in his own hands.

Thos. J. Groth was well known in Elgin and vicinity. By occupation he was a contracting carpenter. He was a good workman and a hard worker, yet eccentric; preferring to live in his little home and shop on Ceenter street rather than with other men. He rarely sought companions, preferring his papers and books to the companionship of others. Only the week previous to his death he had served on the jury at West Union and had been excused because of ill health which dated back for some time. While in West Union he had told a fellow juror that he intended to go to Iowa City for examination and treatment. He was loyal to those whom he chose as his friends and ever ready and willing to lend a helping hand.

The exact date of the tragedy will never be known as no one can tell positively the last time he was seen at his home in town, some fixing the date as late as Friday, but his Decorah Posten, a paper which he always had taken from the postoffice and which arrived here Wednesday morning and the Elgin Echo which was in the postoffice Friday morning, were both in his box Monday morning. This showed he had not been to the office for his mail since Wednesday morning and as the body was frozen it must have laid in the woods for three or four days before it was found. In the chamber of the gun was one exploded shell while the magazine contained none.

Funeral services were held from his late home on Center street Tuesday, at one o'clock, conducted by Rev. Gunsten, pastor of the Cermont Lutheran church, and a number of relatives and friends and business associates attended to pay a last sad tribute of respect.

Thos. J. Groth was fifty-two years of age and was born on the home farm two and a half miles north-east of Elgin. He is survived by an aged mother, two sisters, Sarah and Sophia, all at home; three brothers, H.J. and Martin of Elgin, and L.J. Groth of Seattle, Washington, together with other relatives and friends. The remains were laid to rest in the Houg cemetery, east of town, beside those of his father and a brother who had passed on before.

~Elgin Echo, November 30, 1922