Tott, Herman, 1868-1933

TOTT, NIEUWENHUIS, ROZEBOOM

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

From the Alton Democrat, May 12, 1933, Orange City news:

Orange City friends were shocked to learn of the death of Herman Tott, former resident, whose body was found in the garage at his Sioux City home Wednesday night, May 3, with a .22 calibre bullet in his brain, his death having been self-inflicted according to all indications.

Mr. Tott was born in Germany in 1868 and came to the United States when he was 18. He was engaged for some years in the stock and grain business at Orange City and was married there to Miss Nellie Neuenhuis. He moved to Sioux City in 1905 and was owner of an apartment house there. He is survived by three sons, Hubert and George of Sioux City and Herman of San Francisco and a brother, Carl, of Rock Rapids.

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From De Volksvriend

De langdurige ziekte van zijn echtgenoote en financieele tegenspoeden worden in de Sioux City Tribune aangegeven als oorzaken dat Herman Tott zich van het leven heeft beroofd. Hij was Woensdag bezig op de yard paardebloemen uit te steken en om ongeveer 2 uur zond zijn echtgenoote, die hem niet in de front yard zag, haar kleinzoontje uit om hem te zoeken. Deze vond hem niet en riep de hulp van zijn vader, Hubert in. Zij vonden hem dood in een lawn swing in de garage achter het huis, met een geweerkogel in het hoofd.

Herman was 65 jaar oud. In 1881 kwam het gezin uit Duitschland te Sioux City en verhuisde korten tijd later naar Orange City. Daar trad hij in het huwelijk met Miss Nellie NIeuwenhuis, die hem thans overleeft. Hij was hier werkzaam in den graan en veehandel. In 1905 verhuisde het gezin naar Sioux City.

Drie zonen zijn nog in leven, Hubert en George te Sioux City en Herman te San Francisco. Ook
heeft hij nog een broeder Carl, te Rock Raplds. Het stoffelijk overschot werd hier Maandagnamiddag ter aarde besteld naast dat van zijn zoon Willem, een slachtoffer van den
wereldoorlog.

TRANSLATION:

The long-term illness of his spouse and financial adversity were given in the Sioux City Tribune as reasons for Herman Tott taking his own life. He was busy in the yard Wednesday digging dandelions, and at about 2 o’clock his wife, who did not see him in the front yard, sent her grandson to look for him. He did not find him and called for help from his father, Hubert. He found him dead in a lawn swing in the garage behind the house, with a rifle bullet in the head.

Herman was 65 years old. In 1881 the family came from Germany to Sioux City and shortly afterwards moved to Orange City. There he entered into marriage with Miss Nellie Nieuwenhuis, who now survives him. He worked here in the grain and cattle trade. In 1905 the family moved to Sioux City.

Three sons are still living, Hubert and George in Sioux City and Herman in San Francisco. He also has a brother, Carl, in Rock Rapids. Monday afternoon his mortal remains were consigned to earth next to those of his son Willem, a victim of the world war.

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From De Volksvriend, May 18, 1933:

Het stoffelijk overschot van Herman Tott werd verleden Dinsdag naar de groeve godragen door de directors van den Farmers Elevator die in 1908, tegelijk met Herman, die toen manager werd, dienden. De dragers waren H. Scheurs, Stephen de Jong, Albert Heemstra, A. J. Te Grotenhuis, R. Cleveringa en Gt. Reinders. S. Muilenburg werd door omstandigheden verhinderd. Herman diende vroeger jaren bij hem op de farm en later in de machinerie zaak van R. Jongewaard.

TRANSLATION:

The mortal remains of Herman Tott were borne to the grave last Tuesday by the Farmers Elevator directors who served with Herman in 1908, when he became the manager. The bearers were H. Scheurs, Stephen de Jong, Albert Heemstra, A. J. Te Grotenhuis, R. Cleveringa and Gt. Reinders. Circumstances prevented S. Muilenburg’s attendance. Herman used to work with him on the farm and later in the machinery business of R. Jongewaard.

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The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Tott, Herman, d. 5 May 1933, West Lawn Cem, Orange City IA (WPA Index).

His death certificate has him as Herman W. Tott Sr., born January 20, 1868; father Tott (no forename), mother Bertha (no surname), both born in Germany; wife Nellie Tott; occupation, cattle & grain buyer; found dead at 1:30 p.m. May 3, 1933; cause: brain hemorrhage following gun shot wound; manner of injury, self inflicted gun shot wound in head.

The Sioux County marriage register for 1888/89 has groom Herman Tott, age 22, resident of Orange City, a laborer, born in Hanover, parents George Tott and Aggie Rozeboom; bride Nellie Nieuwenhuis, age 19, resident of Orange City, born in [Zeeland?], parents Hubert Nieuwenhuis and Maria Port; married in Orange City August 15, 1889.

The 1930 U.S. census for Sioux City shows Herman and Nellie Tott living at 4909 Morningside Avenue. He is age 62, age at first marriage 21, owns his house worth $6500, born in Germany, father born in Germany, mother born in Holland, immigrated in 1883, naturalized, occupation livestock shipper. She is age 58, age at first marriage 17, born in Holland, parents born in Holland, immigrated in 1884, naturalized. In the 1920 census he is a hog dealer at the Sioux City stockyards. In the 1910 census he is an elevator company manager in Orange City. In the 1900 census he is an Orange City livestock buyer