August H. Buergel 1853-1916

BUERGEL, GRUENWALD, BRUGMANN, WARE, IRISH, LYLE, NEAL, PETERSEN, LAMB, VOLLMER, JEBENS

Posted By: Lynnea Dickinson (email)
Date: 6/23/2017 at 22:24:24

The Daily Times; Davenport, Iowa; Monday, March 27, 1916; p. 2, col. 4; Obituary of August Buergel:

August Buergel is Found Dead on City Island

Pulmonary Tuberculosis is Cause of Death of Old Character

Son-In-Law Finds the Body

Indictment Against Him for Shooting at "Sawdust Bill" Dismissed Short Time Ago Upon Recommendation by Vollmer

August H. Buergel, well known character in Davenport for many years, was found dead in his shanty on City Island yesterday morning about 10 o'clock by Otto Gruenwald, his son-in-law, who had visited the place for the purpose of caring for the aged man, who had been ill for about two weeks. Death was caused from Pulmonary tuberculosis.

According to relatives, Buergel had been in poor health for some time, although his death was not expected immediately. Members of his family had visited him Saturday night and his condition was about as usual and they left him in fair spirits.
As soon as Gruenwald discovered the body yesterday morning he notified the Runge undertaking establishment, from where the coroner was notified. A postmortem examination was ordered by the coroner and was performed by Dr. F. H. Lamb, pathologist at Mercy hospital, and the cause of death was ascertained.

Buergel was one of the principals in the case in the district court during the last two years, being charged by a Rock Island character known as "Sawdust Bill" with shooting at him during a quarrel over the purchase of a boat. Buergel was indicted by a grand jury during the tenure of the county attorney's office by Fred Vollmer.

Difficulty was encountered when Buergel refused to secure an attorney and the case was continued from time to time. A few weeks ago, County Attorney Jebens took the case up with former County Attorney Vollmer and upon recommendation by the latter, the case was dismissed.

Buergel, was aged 62 years, 7 months and 27 days old. By profession the deceased was a carpenter and followed that trade for a number of years. He had been in the fish business locally for about 25 years. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., July 30, 1853, and came to Davenport with his parents when about eight years of age. He is survived by four daughters; Mrs. Henry Brugmann, Mrs. Otto Gruenwald, Mrs. Lee Ware and Miss Leona Buergel, two sons, Fred and Albert, and four sisters, Mrs. M. Irish of Nebraska, Mrs. Tillie Lyle, Mrs. Louisa Neal and Mrs. A. Petersen of Davenport and one brother, Ernest of Davenport.

The funeral will be held from the home Wenesday afternoon at 2 o'clock with burial in Fairmount cemetery.