Death notices from the 1800s pulled no punches

Susan Doak

SW Nebraska

Genealogy Society

McCOOK, Neb -- While doing some research, I ran across a few quite interesting death notices, where either the manner or cause of death was commented on in the late 1800s blatantly honest style.

From the 1893 McCook Times Democrat came this sad commentary on an apparent suicide: "From near Danbury on his farm there, Sunday afternoon, big and jolly H.H. Ackerman, in a fit of depression, blew his brains out with a gun. It was discovered Friday that two of Ackerman's horses were victims of glanders and that the disease had been contracted by his hired man, John Peterson. The horses were shot and the man died Friday night. The fear of a like death is supposed to have unsettled Ackerman's mind and the wretched man ended his misery by killing himself. Considerable excitement was the result of the discoveries and trouble was experienced in securing volunteers for the funerals. The stables and the carcasses of the horses were burned up as a preventative against spread of the disease." (Note: Glanders was a bacterial disease normally seen in horses, mules or donkeys but could be contracted, though rarely, by humans through inhalation of the bacteria or open wounds. There has not been a recorded case of glanders in the United States since 1945.)

The March 20, 1886, McCook Tribune editor made his feelings very clear when noting the death of a Mrs. McAllister: "At the hour of eight, last night, Mrs. McAllister, the poor woman, who has been suffering so long with spinal meningitis, in a miserable dugout on the river bank, left this world, which to her has been one of poverty and misery, to try the realities of another and we hope, a more friendly world. It is not often the duty of the reporter to chronicle a sadder case than the one under consideration. The contemptible libel on God's creation, who was the woman's husband in name, we are informed, left the house shortly after the poor creature's death, and never showed his ugly physiognomy in the house until the following morning, and as we are further informed that he is in the habit of gaming, and thus spending his means, and allowing his family to want, the probabilities are that he spent the night at the gaming table, while strangers watched over the body of her whom he in days past, swore to love, honor and support, etc. The deceased leaves two little children, who are temporarily provided for." (Note: Physiognomy is a face or countenance especially when considered in reference to a person's character.)

Finally, comments on one of McCook's most esteemed early settlers from the 1890 McCook Democrat are as follows: "THOS. COLFER IS DEAD! The sun rose clear in a sky of azure blue, and all nature smiled joyously on a scene of autumnal beauty Wednesday morning, and though the day was all that could be wished for in climatic loveliness, it was indeed on of the saddest in the history of McCook, for the news had passed from mouth to mouth that Tom Colfer was dead. (Note: Mr. Colfer had injured an ankle over a year prior when alighting from the family carriage and the injury had not healed properly leading the writer to believe that it was the underlying cause of death.) None knew better, nor appreciated more, the noble qualities of this grand good man, than the writer. No public enterprise was an assured success, until his progressive mind, and ardent sympathy had been enlisted, and no excursion party or social circle was complete without the presence of his pleasant face and sunny temperament. When he appeared before a jury to plead his clients cause, there was always a hush in the courtroom, for that tongue that death has now silenced forever, has oft times charmed listeners by its silvery eloquence."

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Death notices from the 1800s pulled no punches