Willard Nelson Lease (1894)

LEASE, BURLESON

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 1/8/2007 at 13:40:23

The Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, July 20, 1894

Copied from Obituary Scrapbook - Winterset Public Library, Winterset, Iowa

DEATH OF W. N. LEASE

He Succumbs to the Effects of Chloroform Having Endured one Difficult Surgical Operation He Refuses to Undergo Another Without Chloroform

Considerable talk and misunderstanding seems to have resulted from the death of Mr. Willard Nelson Lease, of this city, which occurred Friday morning, July 13, while under the influence of chloroform. We have taken some pains to learn the complete history of the case, and herewith present it in order that no injustice may be done to anyone.

For sometime, Mr. Lease, who was a man of rather frail constitution, predisposed to lung trouble and other constitutional weakness, had been suffering with fistula ani. Something over two months ago, Dr. G. N. Skinner was called to examine and treat the case. After an examination he gave it as his opinion that the case was incurable. They then sent to Des Moines for Dr. Cooper, who came up, and, after an examination, thought there was hope that something could be done. Accordingly, he and Dr. Skinner made an operation, having first put the patient under the influence of chloroform. From the operation he rallied, and for a time appeared to improve. He thought of going to the sanitarium at Battlecreek, Michigan, for treatment. At the request of Mrs. Lease, Dr. Skinner made out a statement of Mr. Lease's condition, his constitutional status, etc. On the statement the physicians in charge of the sanitarium decided that it would be useless to send him, as there was little if any hope of rendering him any permanent good. About ten days or two weeks ago, it was observed that the fistula was again spreading, the first operation not having removed the diseased parts entirely. Dr. Skinner was again called, and he telephoned for Dr. Cooper to come and assist in another operation. He could not come, but advised Dr. Skinner to go ahead and make the operation. On Thursday the twelfth last, he made an examination, and concluded that the operation must soon be performed or it would be too late, but he advised Mr. Lease to undergo the cutting without taking chloroform, as he was so weak he feared the result. This, Mr. Lease positively refused to do. Dr. Skinner then told him and his wife that if he administered chloroform, they must take their own chances, as he declined to be held to any responsibility. To this they agreed, for they fully realized that the case was a desperate one. Friday morning Dr. Skinner made preparation to make the operation. He had to assist him, Mr. Utter, who had been nursing Mr. Lease for some time and after administering chloroform till the patient was apparently in a sufficiently stupefied condition, he gave the saturated cloth to Mr. Utter to hold to the patients nose, while he proceeded with the operation. He had just made one small incision, when he noticed that the patient was not breathing naturally. He at once dropped the work, and began trying to produce artificial respiration, and dispatched Mr. Utter after assistance. He brought Dr. Nelson, but before the latter arrived, Mr. Lease was already dead.

It should be added that Mrs. Lease holds no hard feelings against Dr. Skinner, and recognized and acknowledges that he did everything possible for Mr. Lease, and administered the chloroform at her and her dying husband's request, and over his own protest, and that Mr. Lease voluntarily assumed all risk, and positively refused to have the operation performed without it, knowing at the time that his life could last but a very short time if it was not performed.

Mr. Lease was a union veteran and served four years during the war in the 1st Michigan light artillery.

Willard Nelson Lease was born August 6, 1840 in Branch county, Michigan. He died July 13, 1894, and was buried at Winterset cemetery on July 15, 1894.

He enlisted Dec. 14, 1861 in Co. F. 1st Reg. of Michigan, Light artillery to serve 3 years. He was discharged March 25, 1864 at Knoxville, Tenn. to re-enlist as Sargent of the same Company on March 26, 1864 to serv 3 years during the war. He was 22 years old then, 5 ft 10 inches, light complexion, blue eyes, dark hair, occupation was farmer.

He was married Dec. 19, 1868 to Alzina Rosalia Burleson at White Pigeon, Michigan. They left Michigan Aug. 15, 1870 and came to Iowa in a covered wagon, arriving in Iowa Sept. 10, 1870. They moved to Winterset Feb. 9, 1888.

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