Johnson, Mary 1893-1922

JOHNSON, KNECHT, BOHL

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/24/2021 at 20:00:56

Note: Her mother's maiden name was Bohl.

DROWNS SELF AND CHILD

YOUNG MOTHER THROWS HERSELF INTO A CISTRERN

WITH BABY CLASPED IN HER ARMS

Mrs. G. E. Johnson, aged 29, residing on a farm two and a half miles southeast of Chatsworth, committed suicide on Friday morning by jumping into a cistern in the yard. Clasped in her arms when she committed the rash act was her baby boy, aged three and a half months. Her husband, Gerd E. Johnson, was at work in the field at the time and the first intimation he had of the fearful tragedy was when his little son, Emil, aged three and a half years, toddled out to the field and told his father that mamma and the baby were in the cistern and would not come out.

Mr. Johnson hurried to the house and was horrified on looking into the cistern to see his wife and baby floating in the water. He summoned assistance and the bodies were taken from the cistern and the corner notified.

Relatives state that Mrs. Johnson was apparently in good-health and spirits. When Mr. Johnson left her to proceed to his work in the field after breakfast, she was lying down on the bed in her room getting baby to go to sleep and they smilingly bid goodbye to the husband and father as he quitted the room.

That the act was premeditated is evidenced by the fact that Mrs. Johnson, after her husband’s departure, took the children’s clothes from the drawers and a wardrobe and piled them on a bed, each child’s clothes being marked and ticketed with the name of the owner. The morning housework was all done, the house tided and the dinner was in process of cooking in the oven of the kitchen stove.

From a note found later it is gleaned that Mrs. Johnson was brooding over the fate of a sister, Mrs. Ed Albright, who was a few weeks ago adjudged insane and taken to the state institution at Cherokee, leaving four children with a mother’s care. The note intimated that Mrs. Johnson was fearful of a similar fate and also that she would take her baby with her out of this word of sin.

Besides the bereaved husband she leaves three girls and a boy, the eldest only nine years of age.

Mrs. Gerd Johnson was 29 years of age this month. Before her marriage she was Mary Knecht and was born and lived near Merrill in girlhood. Her mother died when she was only twelve years of age and she acted as a mother to the younger members of the family. She was of a bright and sunny disposition and a favorite among her relatives and friends, who are appalled at the sudden and unexpected close of a life which appeared happy and full of promise. In the note she left, Mrs. Johnson assured her husband and children of her love for them.

The funeral was held on Sunday at the Lutheran church in Merrill and the mother and baby laid to rest by the remains of Mrs. Knecht, the mother of Mrs. Johnson.

Le Mars Semi-Weekly
Friday, April 21, 1922
Lemars, Iowa