Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1910-11-18
A PIONEER RESIDENT
ENDS MORTAL LIFE
Mrs. William F. SOmmerfield.
While LdbOring Under an
Alteration of Mind
SEEKS RELIEF THROUGH SUICIDE
Had Been a Sufferer for Years
With Asthma, Which No Doubt
Had Affected Her Mind and In
fluenCed her Rash Act,

Sunday, the friends and acquaintance
OF Mrs. William +. SOmmerteld were
shocked and panied to learn, that she
had passed away at her home, 700 Eighth
street. by her own hand. She had been
in Door health for several years. being a
great sufferer with asthma, which con-
fined her to her home most of the time,
which affected her mind and made her
despOndent, and while labOring under an
alteration of mind shot herself with a
revolver, dying instantly. The act was
committed while her husband and at
tendants were temporarily absent from
her bed room.
In the morning. she gave the key to
her trunk to the hired girl with the re-
quest to bring a tin box, in which she
kept her articles of value and put 1t on the
bed in front of her as she wished to look
over her private papers. After looking
over the things in the box, she requested
the maid to place the box in the trunk,
lock it and return her the key. During
the absence of the nurse and her hus-
band from the room just before dinner,
she again asked the maid to again bring
her the tin box from the trunk and when
her husband went into the bed room for
the dinner tray he remarked: "You
have had your tin box out again" She
replied. THAT she was too tired in the
morning to finish looking over her
things" Mr., Sommerfield then went
and sat down TO dinner and just then
Mr.. Atkins, neighbor, called at the re-
quest of his wife to make inquiry as to
the health of Mrs. SOmmerfield, but
STAYED but moment and soon after,
Mr.. Sommerfeid and the hired girl heard
a shot and both got up from the dinner
table and ran through the sitting room
to the bed room of the deceased and
found her sitting up in bed with re-
vol yer in her hand, she having shot her
self through the head, dying instantly.
How and where she secured the weapon,
which was new, is mystery to her hus-
band who never had one in the house
and never carried one. None OF the help
in the house had ever seen her have one.
and Mrs. Warner, who waited upon Mrs.
Sommerfeld previously, cleaned out the
trunk about six weeks before at the re-
quest of the deceased, but found no re-
no y hQUp
been in the tin box which she always
kept locked.
Helen Louise Montgomery was ma
tive of Vermont, where she was born
May 3, 1910, and came to this city with
her father, David Montgomery, in 1o47,
and was one Of our pioneer residents,
covering a period of sixty-three years,
and had been a resident continuously
except temporary absences in Chicago
and New York.
Despite the encroaches of disease for
years she bore her sufferings cheerfully
and performed many acts Of kindness.
She at times was contributor to the
local newspapers and wrote the dedica-
ton ode which was read at the unveiling
of the soldiers monument here. Her
husband, right-of-way agent for the Mil
waukee road, and one son, William NJ
Sommerfeld of Milwaukee, survive.
Had her health permitted, it was the
intention of Mr.. Sommerfeld to have
taken the departed to California to spend
the winter with the hope that a change
of climate would be beneficial and re-
lieve her from the suffering her disease
caused.
The funeral was held at the house, zoe
Eighth street, Sunday afternoon at
o'clock, the Rev. r. NJ. Laurensen. rector
of St. Paul Episcopal church conducting
the services. The pallbearers were
George Webb, H. T. Eberle, Robert Dent
John Schempf, Leonard Schempf and
David Schweiger, and the interment was
in Oak Hill cemetery.
Those present at the funeral from q
distance were William NJ. SOmmerfeld
a son of the deceased, and family, Mr.
and Mrs. FL. d. James, Mrs. Louis Urtu
bees, Fred G.. Barnum, cousin of the
departed, and A. c. Hagensick, Genera
right-of-way agent for the c. Nj. d st
P. Railway company, all of Milwaukee.