Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-07-16
SoPHUs PETERSON, ILL FOR SEW.
ERAL YEARS, ENDS ALL IN
SUICIDE.
WORKED FOR CITY FOR
ABOUT TWELVE YEARS
Peterson Selects Time For Death When
Daughter. Mrs. Charles Bates, Was
Away From Home-Mrs. Bates Finds
Fathers Body Upon Returning Fri
day Evening.

W hen Mrs. Charles Bates, 2V= North
Fifth street. returned home Friday
evening after spending part of the
. day al the home OF her cousin. Mrs.
Samuel Yetley. she was shocked to
find The dead body Of her father, sophus
H Peterson, hanging in the coal house.
When Mrs. Bates reached home a
iaetghbor's girl informed her that she
had not seen M. Peterson for two
Or three hours This frightened the
daughter. for her father was subject
10 5aintins spells. and she feared he
might have been stricken while she
Vas gone. Upon making search she
found Mr.. Peterson's body.
Peterson had taken a Quar.e--inch
rope. fastened l. firmly TO the rafters,
slipped a doubIe-streag moose about
his neck, mounted a coal bucket, and
stepped of into eternity. When found
the mans toes were touching the
aoo- Death had been caused by stran-
gu.ation
Officers Cut Down Body.
chief Of Police Nicholson and Deputy
Sheriff Mason were summoned, as was
also Coroner Boucher. The rope was
cut by the officers and the body re-
moved 10 the West home. Coroner
Boucher decided an inquest was un-
necessary.
Dependency Let to Act.
-Atlho Nj. Peterson left no note of
any kind, as far as has been found, II
IS he belief OF the family and officers
thai Dependency owing TO IL health
was response bic for the mans act. Mr..
Peterson had not been u good health
for about five years, and had been
failing quite rapidly for the pas Year
o. more During the winter he was
belfast for eight weeks owing % {
severe prostate trouble, with which
ne Was suffering.
Old EN- poye of City.
Mr.. Peterson was an old lnploye OF
the city, and worked in the street de-
partner. Tor twelve years prior to
about three years ago. when his health
became such that he was not able 70
work longer The Peterson home was
Tor several years Al sol North Third
avenue, bit since the death OF his
wife, eight years ago. ne has been max
ing his home with his children. His
daughter. Mrs. Ba-es, has given him
home during recent wears.
Former Farmer of County.
Sopnus II Peterson was born IN
Denmark, near Copenhagen, and was
s. years Old. He came 10 this country
about thIrly-tive years ago with his
@-i-e. on shipb3ard the couples four
children, three daughters and son,
s!ckened and died, and the parents.
heart broken started a new life il an
unknown country among strangers an
der most uniuviJirg conditions
After reaching this county Mr.. and
Mrs. Peterson settled al Davenport.
where they lived for ten years They
then came to this county and moved on
one Of the late G. f Capron's farms
near Melbourne. From there they
went on TO & farm near Green Noun
tain, and came 10 this city fifteen years
ago
Mr.. Peterson is survived by four
daughters, Mrs Julia PurseI. OF Shields,
y D.; Mrs. Jacob D!eterich, % Alden;
Mrs. Bates, Of this city; and Mrs
Frank D!ckey. of Buckingham, TaIna
county. A daughter Lena died in this
city twelve years ago There also sur
vtve three sisters and one brother. one
Of the sisters. Mrs. James Ha-ter, ard
he brother, Fritz Peterson, live in
Davenport. Another sister, Mrs. Doris
Thompson, resides with her daughter,
Mrs, Charles Nelson, on the old Stew
ard farm. north OF the city. Another
sister lives in the east.
The funeral Will be held IRON, TIA
Bates home at 2:30 Sunday afternoon
at 2:3o, Rev. James MCGEE officiating.
1nterment VIII De il Riverside.