Eberhard, David Carl 1831-1904

EBERHARD, HOLCH

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/12/2024 at 16:21:55

Note: His wife's maiden name is Holch and they had a son Herman who died in 1890 and is buried in Hillside Cemetery, Merrill, Plymouth County, Iowa next to his parents.

SUICIDE OF OLD RESIDENT

David Eberhard of Merrill Ends His Life By Hanging Himself

David Eberhard, one of the pioneers of Plymouth county, and a long time citizen of Merrill, committed suicide in a shed at the rear of his home, on Monday afternoon. No cause can be assigned for the rash act by any of his family or acquaintances, unless it was the fact that he might have been grieving over the death of his wife, which occurred a little over a year ago.

On Monday afternoon he was greeting his friends around town and no one noticed anything unusual in his manner.

On going home he went into a shed, climbed upon a pile of cobs and tied a piece of clothes line to a beam above, adjusted the rope around his neck and apparently swung himself off from the pile of cobs. His feet were surrounded by cobs upon which he might have supported his weight if he had so desired. He was found by his daughter, Lizzie, who gave an alarm and was cut down at once.

Life was not quite extinct when he was found but he expired in a few minutes and before the arrival of physicians who were summoned.

Mr. Eberhard was over 72 years of age, and had lived in Merrill for the past ten years. He was of a very cheerful and amiable disposition and of a social and companionable nature, and the last person on earth, whom his friends would think would give way to despondency.

Coroner John Beely went to Merrill and held an inquest. J. T. Harker, W. C. Peck and W. L. Veidt composed the jury. The jurors returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased came to his death by his own hand.

Mr. Eberhard was widely known in the county being a resident since 1868. He was a native of Germany and came to the United States when a young man, locating at Galena, Ill. From there he came to Plymouth county taking a homestead in Liberty township, which he still retained. He was a successful farmer and during his long and industrious life laid up a comfortable store for his old age besides starting his sons in life. When he retired from the farm, he and his wife moved to Merrill to spend the end of their days in peace and comfort. Since the death of his wife, his daughters, Lizzie and Amelia have kept house for him.

He is survived by five sons and four daughters. The sons are Charles at Merrill, John,at Hinton, Frank and Henry at Ireton, and Jacob at Edmond, S. D., and his daughters are Mrs. L. E. Ausman of Merrill, Bertha who resides in California, and Misses Lizzie and Amelia who are living at home.

The funeral was held from the home at Merrill on Wednesday afternoon, and was largely attended.

Le Mars Sentinel pg. 3
Friday, May 20, 1904
Lemars, Iowa