Esther Taylor 1887-1907

TAYLOR, HERRICK

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 10/26/2024 at 11:01:13

The Wapello Republic, Columbus Junction, IA
Thursday, July 25, 1907
Page 1

Esther Taylor has committed suicide in Burlington Monday night, about 10:30. The particulars as given in the Hawk-Eye next morning were essential correct, though her death did not occur until about 3:30 p. m. the following day. Miss Taylor went to Chicago about a month ago where she was employed in a wholesale millinery establishment. She was supposed to be in Chicago and it was a great shock to her parents to receive a long distance telephone message from Burlington about one o'clock Monday night, saying that their daughter had committed suicide and was dying.

According to the press reports, she came to Burlington Saturday evening and stopped at the Heyer House, where she had formerly been employed. About ten o'clock she came down stairs to mail a letter and talked pleasantly with the clerk, going out shortly to the letter box. Returning she went up to her room where she drank about half the contents of a three ounce bottle of carbolic acid. She came down stairs again about 11:15, smiling as usual and stepped to the telephone, but before she could take down the receiver fainted and fell to the floor. A doctor was hastily called and administered antidotes. Later she was taken to Mercy hospital where everything was done for her relief and restoration, but with slight hopes of her recovery.

She regained consciousness about one o'clock Tuesday afternoon and recognized her father and sister who were at her side, having gone down on the early morning train. There was really no hope of her recovery, however, and death came as a solemn relief about 3:30 p. m. as stated. The cause of the deed is not definitely known, though it is known that there was some misunderstanding and disappointment in a girlhood love affair, which add the elements of the pathetic and the tragic to this deplorable ending of a young life. The blow falls with crushing weight upon the parents and brothers and sister.

Esther Taylor was born in Wapello, Iowa, Oct. 13, 1887 and died in Burlington, Iowa, July 23, 1907, aged 19 years, 9 months and 10 days. She leaves her father and mother, Ed. L. Taylor and wife, one sister Mrs. S. J. Herrick and two brothers, C. L. at Raton, New Mexico and E. M. at Galesburg, Ill. The funeral services were held at the home this afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Theo Koopman, with interment in Wapello cemetery.