John Ziegler obituary, 1904, Iowa City
Obituary from the Iowa City Press-Citizen, Monday, December 2, 1907, Pg. 5 - HIS OWN HAND BECKONS DEATH.JOHN ZIEGLER MEETS TRAGIC FATE.Pioneer Seeks End of All by Drinking Deadly Fluid and Succeeds - Fiery Acid Causes Torture.Crazed temporarily by pain, due to back-ache, John Ziegler, a pioneer, aged 58, drank carbolic acid Saturday night, suffered intensely 16 hours, and died Sunday afternoon at 1 o'clock.Driven Distracted by Pain.He had been a victim of neuralgia or kindred ailments several days, and his back was so affected that he could not bend it without excruciating pain.Finally, tortured beyond endurance, he poured the contents of an ounce-phial of carbolic acid down his throat, about nine o'clock, Saturday night, and became unconscious shortly afterwards.Sixteen Long Hours.He recovered consciousness after 6 o'clock, Sunday morning, but lapsed into a state of coma soon, and nothing could be done to save him, and little to assuage his pain during the remaining hours of his life.The fiery fluid burned the inner portions of his mouth and his throat, all the down, terribly.No Inquest.Coroner Hobby decided that an inquest was unnecessary, after a thorough consideration of the facts.The ill-fated man was a pioneer of Iowa City, having lived here more than a half century.Family Mourns.Surviving are a widow, one son, John, of Iowa City, and two daughters, Mrs. Ab. Bright, of Cedar Rapids, and Mrs. Thomas Patterson, of Iowa City.Funeral Services.The funeral will take place at 9 a.m. Wednesday from St. Mary's church.The cortege will leave the family residence, 219 East Harrison street, shortly before