Kruse, Harm (Died 1894)

KRUSE

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/25/2012 at 10:12:08

LeMars Sentinel
December 13, 1894

DIED IN HIS WAGON

Harm Kruse, A Wealthy Farmer of Grant Township, Dies On His Way Home From
LeMars

Coroner Gray was summoned to Dalton last night to hold an inquest on the
remains of Harm Kruse, a well known and wealthy farmer of Grant township,
who was found dead in his wagon at that place.

It appears that Kruse left LeMars yesterday afternoon in a lumber wagon
partly loaded with lumber. Bernard Pecks started out of town a little ahead
of him and observed that the old gentleman did not act natural. After
getting out of LeMars a little way he went back to Kruse's wagon and wanted
Kruse to let him drive, this Kruse refused to do. When near Dalton Kruse's
team passed Pecks and Pecks noticed that Kruse had hold of only one line.
Pecks caught the team and drove it to Dalton. Here he spoke to the
postmaster about taking care of Kruse while he took care of the team. Kruse
was sitting on the lumber in the bottom of the wagon box and was laying
against the side of the box and he was unconscious. The men summoned Dr.
Richey who happened to be near and doctor pronounced him dead.

The verdict of the corner's jury was that he came to his death from heart
failure caused by excessive indulgence in intoxicating drink.

Two of his sons arrived last night and took the corpse home, where the
funeral service will be held. Mr. Kruse was very popular among his
neighbors and was a leading man in the community in which he lived.