Ladehoff, Emil 1881-1921

LADEHOFF, BOLKMANN, BARRINGTON, ANDERSON

Posted By: Patricia Anderson (email)
Date: 6/11/2012 at 10:32:17

Akron Register Tribune, August 18, 1921

MET ACCIDENTAL DEATH
Emil Ladehoff, a Well-known Farmer, East of Town, Shoots Self in the Head with Rifle.

Emil Ladehoff, who has been operating the Dierksen farm, six miles east of town, met with a tragic deathe by accidental shooting Monday morning at about 7 o'clock. There was no eye-witness to the event but the facts leading thereto were as follows: Shortly before he left home with a couple of halters to go to the pasture to catch a team of horses he was to use in helping a neighbor with his threshing. He took with him a 22-calibre hammerless rifel, with which he hoped to get a mink that had been seen in the pasture. In a short time his hired man, John Christenson, heard a shot from that direction and walked down to see if he had shot the mink. As he neared the gate he saw Mr. Ladehoff lying on the ground near the gate and at first thought he was waiting to get another shot, but he soon saw that this was not the case and was horrified to find his employer lying apparently lifeless on the ground and bleeding profusely from a bullet wound in one eye. He ran at once to the home of a neighbor, Nick Flaherty, to secure help. In the meantime Mrs. Ladehoff had sent her little boy out to see where her husband wasand the lad found him at the gate and, terribly frightened, ran to the house and told his mother. Soon Mr. Flaherty and others were at the scene and medical aid was summoned, but to no purpose, for the bullet evidently passed through the eye and into the brain, causing instant death, as no sign of a struggle was found. The unfortunate man had evidently tried to get over the top of the barbwire gate or through the top wires as one of his trouser legs was caught on a barb. As to whether he fell or the gun fell from his hand and was discharged can not be determined, of course, as no one witnessed the accident. County Coroner Barnett of Merrill was notified and upon his arrival a coroner's jury was impaneled and an inquest held, the verdict being that Mr' Ladehoff had come to his deathe by the accidental discharge of a rifle in his own hands.

Emil Ladehoff, son of Henry and Caroline (nee Bolkmann) Ladehoff, was born January 24, 1881 in Germany and came to the United States in 1882, locating at Lyons, Iowa. Seven years ago he came to Akron vicinity and engaged in farming. On January 24, 1916 he was united in marriage with Mrs Ella Barrington, daughter of Mr and Mrs Christ Anderson, west of town and resided in that vicinity for about four years. Mr Ladehoff was a hard-working industrious farmer and leaves to mourn his sad and untimely departure his wife, two step children and six brothers, all of whom have the sympathy of all who know them. At the time of his sudden summons he was 40 years, 6 months and 22 days of age.

After a brief service at the home east of town, the funeral was held yesterday (Wednesday) at 3PM in Trinity Lutheran Church, in this city, and was largely attended. In the absence of the pastor, Rev J J Vollmar of LeMars officiated and delivered a very fine sermon. Interment was in Riverside cemetery.

Relatives who came from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Ladehoff, of Lyons, Iowa, he being a brother of the deceased.