Michael Hogan died 1875

HOGAN, HARVEY, CANTILLION, WAPLES

Posted By: CHERYL MOONEN (email)
Date: 6/14/2018 at 11:50:46

Dubuque Daily Times, Saturday, May 15, 1875, Dubuque, IA, Page: 3

DEATH IN THE CISTERN

ANOTHER SUICIDE

“ABERATION OF MIND
CAUSED BY SICKNESS”

Earl yesterday morning it was rumored on our streets that Michael Hogan, a well-known citizen, and for a long time boss in the freight house of the Illinois Central Railroad of this city, had fallen into his cistern and been drowned. On proceeding to the residence of the unfortunate man, which is situated on the summit of the bluff, at the point where Seventeenth Street intersects the extension of Locust Street. Our reporter found the following to be the facts: Mr. Hogan had been out of health for some time, but had continued to work until Wednesday night, remaining at home on Thursday as perinstructions from Mr. Harvey, freight agent. Yesterday morning he got up at the usual hour, about four o’clock and his wife supposed, he had determined to go to work, it having been his custom to get up at that early hour, to get his own breakfast and go to his work. Not hearing him about the premises, and knowing that he had not built the fire, she got up and commenced search for him. Seeing the cistern uncovered, she looked in and saw his body. She gave the alarm, and some of the neighbors were called in and the body was raised from the cistern. He had not dressed himself; was in his night clothes, and as to the entrance of the cistern is too small that it would have been impossible for him to fall in, and as there was only four feet of water in the cistern, there can be no doubt that he contemplated taking his own life, and jumped in for that purpose. He left no word behind, said nothing to his wife, and is not known that any serious trouble was on his mind. His family relations were of the most happy character. He was not embarrassed by debt. The family residence and land belonging thereto-being two or three acres of ground- is one of the most tasty and attractive in the vicinity, and is considered a thirty and forehanded man, and everything about him indicated this. He was a most faithful employee. Coroner Cantillion held an inquest, and Dr. Waples made an examination, and the verdict was that Hogan came to his death by suicide. He was a solider in the late war under Col. Wilson; was a good one, and in all his relations he had the respect and confidence of those who knew him. He was about 45 years of age. He leaves a wife and two daughters, aged 17 and 19 respectively.