Notes |
- _P_CCINFO 2-14330
Facts about this person:
Burial
St John's Lutheran Cemetery (Shell Creek); Columbus, NE.
From THE COLUMBUS (NE.) JOURNAL, January 30, 1895-
FARMER FROZEN TO DEATH
________
Thrown from a Wagon While Intoxicated and Died from Exposure
The Omaha Daily Bee of Monday contains the following from their Leigh correspondent, under the date of Jan. 27th, so that the tragedy must have occurred Saturday night. It adds one more to the fearful list of woes attributed directly to the drink habit, and contains a lesson for every man who allows an appetite to usurp the place of reason:
"This morning J.H. Grotetoeschen (SIC), a prominent and well-to-do Colfax county farmer who lived in the Wilson precinct, is lying dead at the home of F. C. Arnall (SIC), three miles south of Leigh. Last night Grotetoeschen and another farmer, Fred Muhle, had been drinking heavily, and when they started for home, were badly intoxicated. About three miles south of town their team evidently started to run. Grotetoeschen fell out and Muhle fell into the bed of the wagon. When the team got home Mrs. Muhle went out and found her husband, took him in and sobered him up. As soon as sober Muhle started out to hunt his companion, and found him about sunrise, lying by the road, near the Arnold place, frozen stiff. A medical examination proved him dead. The coroner was telegraphed for and an inquest will be held. The deceased was a widower, with eight children. He was a member of the Woodmen of the World lodge at this place and his family will get $2000 life insurance."
From THE COLUMBUS (NE.) JOURNAL, February 6, 1895-
Groteluschen Death
In last's weeks Journal, we printed the telegram to the Bee announcing the death of J. H. Groteluschen of Wilson precinct, Colfax county, the Saturday before. From the Leigh World, we learn the account was substantially correct.
Grotelueschen and his companion Fred. Muhle had attended the meeting of the Woodmen of the World until 5, and instead of going home, tarried in town until 8 or a little after. Both drank considerable liquor becoming partially intoxicated, and just before starting home drank two whiskeys each. When Muhle got home his wife heard the team come in. She went out and found her husband lying in the bottom of the wagon in a drunken stupor. She took him in, put him to bed, and then put away the team. About half past 5 Sunday morning Muhle woke up and asked about Groteluschen. Becoming alarmed he went to G's place and told the boys the facts as far as he knew them. Henry and Herman started out with Muhle and found the dead body near F. C. Arnold's place. He had a large bruise on his right temple, and a bruise on the back of his head. Both feet were frozen half way to the knees, both hands were frozen half way up to the elbows; both ears, the nose and one cheek were also frozen. Some attending circumstances and marks in the road where he had crawled thought the snow indicated the dead man had made a heroic struggle for preservation and died within a stone's throw of where help was to be had. From where he fell out of the wagon to where the dead body lay was thirty rods, and within ten rods of Arnold's house. About 12 o'clock Arnold's dogs raised a disturbance, and kept it up so that about 1, Arnold got up and fired a revolver, thinking that there were wolves around, and that would scare them away. the dogs ceased their noise about 2. The inference is that the unfortunate man became unconscious about 12 o'clock; that he endeavored to walk but could not; the hands were frozen before he regained consciousness; at times he would get out of the track into the snow, and then work back again; the time occupied was probably the two hours the dogs were noisy. the body was found lying nearly flat on his back, and was minus cap, overcoat, and mittens.
The verdict of the jury was that Groteluschen came to his death accidentally, and that death was caused by wounds from falling from a buggy, exposure to cold, and freezing. Mr. Groteluschen came to Colfax County direct from Germany, twenty-one years ago last June; he had a family of nine children; his wife died in '87 and he lost one son in '93. There are three boys and five girls surviving him all but one at home. He was a kind and indulgent father to his children who deeply mourn his death. The World adds: "As a friend and neighbor, all who knew him thought well of him. He was not much addicted to drinking excessively, and did so very seldom.
Original individual @I03139@ (@MS_WURDEMANNGM.GED1@) merged with @I1497@ (@MS_WURDEMANLEGACYG0@)
|