The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-06-26
Pioneer OF Vernon
browns In Stream
From Tuesdays Daily.

From Tuesdays Daily.
Death by drowning was the YER
dict rendered by Coroner A. @. Lied
lon, In the case OF Peter Mertesdorf,
one of the Oldest farmers In Blue
Earth county, whose dead body was
found this morning In the Blue Earth
river, not far from his home In Vernon
Center village. The body was found
with the head and part of the body
In the river, lying face downwards.
Nearby was found a butchers knife,
which was readily recognized as me
that belonged in Mr.. Mertesdorf's
home. II Is suspected that Mr.. Merit
esdorf attempted to cut his throat.
and was seized with heart failure or
suffered a paralytics troke when about
in the act. A slight cut was dis
covered on the throat, but not
enough to cause death.
Wife Had ParaIytic Stroke.
Mr.. Mertesdorf was eight-seven
years old. Recently his wife suffered
a stroke of paralysis. Since that
time he has not been like his for
mer self much of the. time, and a
few days ago he was heard to make
the remark that he desired to die
before his wife did. There were
times, however even quite recently,
when he was in the best of spirits,
and on election day he laughed and
joked with his friends as gayly as
ever. Yesterday some friends and
neighbors called on him and found
him apparently in the best OF health
and in excellent humor.
Left House Early.
Mr.. Mertesdorf arose and left the
house early this morning. Mrs. Marie
Evans of Mankato, a school teacher
of Vernon, who boards at his home,
discovered, about four o'clock in the
morning that he had left the house.
She saw that he had taken his rub
bers with him and thought he must
have gone to the depot to take the
early train for Mankato. However,
feeling somewhat iii at ease, she
telephoned to his two sons, Fred and
John who lives on a farm about
mile and a half away, telling them
OF their, fathers disappearance. The
two sons Immediately went to the
depot to look for their father, and,
not seeing him there, suspected that
there must be something wrong. They
therefore continued their search, and
at length discovered the body, lying
partly immersed in about a foot and
a half of water, on the bank, near
the bridge, south of the village.
. Lived Here Fifty Years.
The deceased was born I'm Ger
many, October II, 1927, and came to
this country at the age of twenty
seven. He lived in Wisconsin until
May 1863. when he came to Mime
sofa and settled on a farm near
Vernon Center, where he lived for
ty.sepen years. He was a success
lul uu6luccS anu ~
one time the owner of eight hun
dred acres OF choice farm property.
He gave to each of his sons, Fred,
George, John and Edward a quarter
section. About five years ago, he re-
tired to village life at Vernon.
Besides his wife and four sons, he
is survived by several daughters: Mrs.
William Schultz, and Mrs. Homer
Waite, Garden City; Mrs. Minnie
Eberhart and Mrs. Frank Schwan,
Good Thunder, Mrs. Hattie Jacobs
and Mrs. Lehman, who lives
with her brothers, John and Ed.
Well Known Man.
Mr.. Mertesdorf was one Of the
best-known men in Blue Earth coun-
ty. He was a fine gentleman, sturdy,
honest and conscientious in his trans
actions. Everybody respected Mr..
Everybody was his friend.
He had many friends in Mankato. to
whom the news of his death came
as a shock.
4hcitCouoil oANth
kato. He was republican In politics
and in old days when party conven-
lions were held he was frequently a
delegate to county and state gather
ings.
Since the hail storm which passed
over the country adjacent to Ver-
non Center last Thursday evening,
Mr.. Mertesdorf was considerably
worried over the loss sustained by
his sons. -
Mrs. Mertesdorf was notified OF
her husbands death and naturally
she was greatly shocked and pros
trated with grief. No intimation
was made to her that II was sus-
pected that he had made an at.
tempt in his own life.
The funeral arrangements have
not as yet been made. $3.50. ...
From Tuesdays Daily.