By September 1899 the Iversons had left Minneapolis and lived at 270 North Hoyne Avenue in Chicago, very close to their previous address from the 1880s at 676 North Hoyne Avenue. Apparently they were not at 270 North Hoyne very long, as they are not listed in the city directory for that year (rather, blacksmith Patrick Gorman resides at that address), and they were at 190 West Huron for the 1900 census.
On September 9th, 1899, tragedy struck, as Iver's mother Johanne committed suicide by hanging herself from a bedpost in the family home. The coroner's inquest reads, “Inquest No. 16843, upon the body of Johanna Iverson. County of Cook, State of Illinois, on the 11th day of September 1889. Verdict: The said Johanna Iverson now lying dead at 270 N Hoyne Ave. in said City of Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois, came to his death on the 9th day of Sept AD 1899 from strangulation due to hanging herself to bedpost with a rope at her home No. 270 N. Hoyne Ave. while despondent.”
Her son Iver, and a Patrick Fitzegerald of 538 West Huron, were witnesses. A city directory from that time confirms Patrick Fitzgerald as a glazier; brushmaker John Fitzgerald resides at the same address. Patrick's record at that address dates back to the 1870s, so it is certainly possible that Patrick and Iver were friends and/or associates even before the Iversons moved to Brooklyn, but that is speculation on my part.
On September 9th, 1899, tragedy struck, as Iver's mother Johanne committed suicide by hanging herself from a bedpost in the family home. The coroner's inquest reads, “Inquest No. 16843, upon the body of Johanna Iverson. County of Cook, State of Illinois, on the 11th day of September 1889. Verdict: The said Johanna Iverson now lying dead at 270 N Hoyne Ave. in said City of Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois, came to his death on the 9th day of Sept AD 1899 from strangulation due to hanging herself to bedpost with a rope at her home No. 270 N. Hoyne Ave. while despondent.”
Her son Iver, and a Patrick Fitzegerald of 538 West Huron, were witnesses. A city directory from that time confirms Patrick Fitzgerald as a glazier; brushmaker John Fitzgerald resides at the same address. Patrick's record at that address dates back to the 1870s, so it is certainly possible that Patrick and Iver were friends and/or associates even before the Iversons moved to Brooklyn, but that is speculation on my part.
Coroner’s inquest for Johanna Iverson. Obtained from the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at Northeastern Illinois University.
The death was reported in numerous newspapers around the country; several examples are shown below. I have read that newspapers sometimes needed to "fill space," and would do so with blurbs from sensational telegrams from around the country.
The news also made the "Svenska Folkets Tidning," a Swedish-language newspaper based in Minneapolis, on September 20th, 1899. Surprisingly, this newspaper had the most detail.
"Life-weary aging. Johanna Iverson, 78 years old, committed suicide on September 9 by hanging herself in her residence No. 270 North Hoyne avenue. The old woman lived with her son I. F. Iverson and his wife. When the daughter-in-law went down to town at two o'clock in the afternoon, the mother-in-law sat and read; when she returned at four o'clock, she found the old woman hanging by a noose, fastened to a bedpost." |
Death certificate for Johanne Iverson, indicating her burial at Mount Olive Cemetery.
The death certificate revealed that Johanne was buried at Mount Olive Cemetery, a primarily Scandinavian cemetery founded by Norwegians in 1886. A Viking water fountain of solid granite is displayed at the front of the grounds. We visited the cemetery in September 2014 and never have I encountered such gracious, personable, and courteous hosts as the two gentlemen in the office. They had already been extremely helpful obtaining information for Ingeborg Tesli (described below), so I did not want to monopolize too much more of their time inquiring about Johanne. They found in the historic cemetery book that Johanne was buried in block 6, lot 416. Unfortunately, no such plot exists: the number 416 was mis-recorded, as all plots in that block are four-digit numbers. The director indicated that block 6 was "not quite a pauper's grave, but more of a community cemetery." In other words, these were frequently unmarked graves and single plots. He said it was nearly impossible to locate graves in that section, though the grounds attendants would be happy to look for markers and help us locate the site. As plot 416 did not exist anyway, we did not spend too much time exploring that section of the cemetery. I did not ask to see a burial card or other record, as we had already benefited greatly from their generous help and I did not want to impose on any more of their time.
Plot map of Mount Olive Cemetery at 3800 North Narragansett Avenue in the Dunning area of Chicago. Notice that the map is oriented south.
Original Viking statue (now a water fountain) near the entrance of Mount Olive Cemetery. Photo taken September 2014.
Arched entrance to Mount Olive Cemetery. (In September 2014 we found this was used as the exit, and the entrance was a bit further north.) Photo courtesy of findagrave.com.
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Decorative ceiling in the archway.
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Chapel in Mount Olive Cemetery, dated 1889. Photo taken September 2014.
Views of block 6 in Mount Olive Cemetery, September 2014. The office supervisor indicated that this plot was full; however, a significant number of graves are unmarked. The views shown here were taken from the road between block W and block 6, facing east.
In 1900, Iver, Ellen, and A. Louis lived at 190 West Huron. In that year's census, Iver is listed as a sailor on Lake Michigan, unemployed for 5 months, and A. Louis is listed as an office boy. According to the book "A Century of Urban Life: The Norwegians in Chicago Before 1930" by Odd S. Lovoll, lake shipping was seasonally determined and this temporary lapses in employment were to be expected. However, I do not know why Iver would have returned to sailing rather than working as a clerk or shop owner.
From the Chicago city directories in both 1900 and 1901, Iver F. is described as a clerk living at 190 West Huron, and A. Louis is also a clerk living at 190 West Huron and employed at 504, 28 Jackson Boulevard. I have not been able to find the name of the business at this location; however, other individuals with that address of employment are listed in the city directory as clerks, bookkeepers, collectors, and stenographers. In 1901, the manager at that address was listed as Wallace S. Hampsher, who later developed a patent for a curtain fixture that sounds similar to a modern folding blind. We shall see below, however, that Iver may not have been working during that time, so perhaps the directories may have been published in advance.
In the 1901 publication Norge i Amerika med kart, a directory of business people of Norwegian heritage, compiled by Martin Ulvestad, Iver is listed as a "cigarer og tobak" and his wife Marie (Ellen Marie) is a "cigarhandel." Mr. Ulvestad was a prolific journalist/historian who wrote numerous books and directories documenting the lives of Norwegian-Americans. He had correctly traced the family to Chicago (not Brooklyn or Minneapolis) at this time. Even with his admirable detail and dedication, I believe the listings in this directory were compiled from voluntary submissions and word-of-mouth from correspondents, and I have reason to believe that Iver was no longer a bookseller at this time, as described below. A second edition of this book was published in 1902. Researcher Colin Dunn from the Minnesota Historical Society generously donated his time to look through the book with me in an online viewing session. The second edition appears to be more of an addendum to the first, only about 1/10th the size, focusing more on population statistics about each city but without a comprehensive directory of residents. Therefore, we are not able to use the 1902 directory to help locate Iver.
According to family legend, Iver disappeared during this time, and his wife and son never know what happened to him. My grandfather thought that his father (A. Louis, the son of Iver) had once seen Iver looking in the window after his disappearance-- but that is only hearsay.
I contacted the National Archives of Norway to see if there were any subsequent records of Iver as a sailor. After several weeks of research they responded: "Information about the experience for Ivar Frithjof Iversen f 1857. The Regional State Archives of Oslo have received your letter dated 16.09.2013. We keep the archives of the Merchant Marine Shipping office of Oslo. We have searched in the indexes of the seaman’s rolls, but we are sorry to tell that we have not found the person in question. We can neither give you any additional information."
Alas, the "Nordisk Tidene" of Brooklyn reports an unsettling fate. Their front page story from June 21st, 1900, is as follows (translated below the image). Read this devastating tale at your own risk; I wept throughout.
I contacted the National Archives of Norway to see if there were any subsequent records of Iver as a sailor. After several weeks of research they responded: "Information about the experience for Ivar Frithjof Iversen f 1857. The Regional State Archives of Oslo have received your letter dated 16.09.2013. We keep the archives of the Merchant Marine Shipping office of Oslo. We have searched in the indexes of the seaman’s rolls, but we are sorry to tell that we have not found the person in question. We can neither give you any additional information."
Alas, the "Nordisk Tidene" of Brooklyn reports an unsettling fate. Their front page story from June 21st, 1900, is as follows (translated below the image). Read this devastating tale at your own risk; I wept throughout.
I. F. Iverson's Fate: The well-known Brooklyn Man from Columbia Street is reportedly insane and committed to a Chicago insane asylum. His old mother has ended her life by her own hand.
A not unexpected message has reached us from Chicago. It consists of nothing less than that the well-known man of this city, former bookseller and ticket agent of Columbia Street, I. F. Iverson, who last spring left Brooklyn and went west, is said to have suffered such a sad fate that he has been committed to an insane asylum in Chicago.
When we, who stood very close to Mr. Iverson, publish this event so fateful for him and his family, we do so only because of the custom of the press to bring our readers news, even if it is as sad as it is to us in this case. We have received innumerable inquiries from Iverson’s friends concerning his present whereabouts and how he has fared since he left the city, and therefore we inform them of what we have heard.
The cause of his present condition probably goes back a long way, at least as far as the summer of 1898. Early one morning, after he had returned home from a party, he went to rest in a room separate from his and his wife's usual bedroom, as he did not want to disturb the others in the house. Some time later, a strong smell of gas penetrated the house, which caused his old mother, who lived there with him, and whom he cherished with great affection, to wake up; and when she investigated the cause, she found that the gas tap in her son's room stood open, while Iverson himself lay on the bed in a death-like state. A doctor was immediately sent for, and after persistent work he succeeded in bringing Iverson to consciousness.
The effect of the inhaled gas was, however, of an unfortunate nature. Iverson transformed and never returned, and it seemed as if his spirit and willpower were completely broken. He became silent and withdrawn, lost desire for everything, and could not seem to manage his business. His doctor advised him with the best will in the world that he should follow the cure prescribed by him, but all to no avail. Then the saddest part began: the business of the extremely enterprising businessman went downhill, but Iverson did not seem to have the slightest idea of getting close to it. For him, everything did not matter.
It could not continue in this way for long, and disaster struck last spring, when he had to give up such a flourishing affair-- not because the business was doing poorly, but because Iverson's ability to manage it had completely disappeared. He sold what was left, both inventory and personal belongings, packed up what was left, and headed west.
He told us that he went to Minneapolis, which he did, but stayed there only a short time, after which he went to Chicago, where he had previously lived, and in which city he had also married. Nothing was heard from him for a long time, until the terrible news reached us that his old mother, nearly 80 years old, out of grief and horror at the fate that had befallen her son, ended her own life by hanging herself in the cellar of the house in which they lived.
This last of his misfortune from here was probably due to his already weakened spirit. The grief over his mother's death has probably broken the last remnant, and his mind was then completely taken over.
In his marriage he has only one son, who is now so big that he may possibly be a little support to the mother. But it is hard for such an affluent family to be haunted, and it is sad to bring Iverson's personal friends a report of such a grim nature in every respect.
A not unexpected message has reached us from Chicago. It consists of nothing less than that the well-known man of this city, former bookseller and ticket agent of Columbia Street, I. F. Iverson, who last spring left Brooklyn and went west, is said to have suffered such a sad fate that he has been committed to an insane asylum in Chicago.
When we, who stood very close to Mr. Iverson, publish this event so fateful for him and his family, we do so only because of the custom of the press to bring our readers news, even if it is as sad as it is to us in this case. We have received innumerable inquiries from Iverson’s friends concerning his present whereabouts and how he has fared since he left the city, and therefore we inform them of what we have heard.
The cause of his present condition probably goes back a long way, at least as far as the summer of 1898. Early one morning, after he had returned home from a party, he went to rest in a room separate from his and his wife's usual bedroom, as he did not want to disturb the others in the house. Some time later, a strong smell of gas penetrated the house, which caused his old mother, who lived there with him, and whom he cherished with great affection, to wake up; and when she investigated the cause, she found that the gas tap in her son's room stood open, while Iverson himself lay on the bed in a death-like state. A doctor was immediately sent for, and after persistent work he succeeded in bringing Iverson to consciousness.
The effect of the inhaled gas was, however, of an unfortunate nature. Iverson transformed and never returned, and it seemed as if his spirit and willpower were completely broken. He became silent and withdrawn, lost desire for everything, and could not seem to manage his business. His doctor advised him with the best will in the world that he should follow the cure prescribed by him, but all to no avail. Then the saddest part began: the business of the extremely enterprising businessman went downhill, but Iverson did not seem to have the slightest idea of getting close to it. For him, everything did not matter.
It could not continue in this way for long, and disaster struck last spring, when he had to give up such a flourishing affair-- not because the business was doing poorly, but because Iverson's ability to manage it had completely disappeared. He sold what was left, both inventory and personal belongings, packed up what was left, and headed west.
He told us that he went to Minneapolis, which he did, but stayed there only a short time, after which he went to Chicago, where he had previously lived, and in which city he had also married. Nothing was heard from him for a long time, until the terrible news reached us that his old mother, nearly 80 years old, out of grief and horror at the fate that had befallen her son, ended her own life by hanging herself in the cellar of the house in which they lived.
This last of his misfortune from here was probably due to his already weakened spirit. The grief over his mother's death has probably broken the last remnant, and his mind was then completely taken over.
In his marriage he has only one son, who is now so big that he may possibly be a little support to the mother. But it is hard for such an affluent family to be haunted, and it is sad to bring Iverson's personal friends a report of such a grim nature in every respect.
It is possible that Iver was admitted to the Cook County Insane Asylum, known throughout the region as "Dunning." Alas, asylum records from that era were destroyed, so there is no information on whether he was placed there, nor if he was ever released. Oddly, I can find no mention of him in the Chicago newspapers-- neither the standard papers nor the Norwegian-language "Skandinaven."
Like many institutions of the time, Dunning had a terrible history of abusing patients and subjecting them to conditions not suited for animals. Lack of heat, lack of hot water, and "rooms swarm[ing] with vermin" were the least of the troubles. Reports indicate the corrupt administration allowed overcrowding leading to patient fights; failure to provide fruits and vegetables causing a scurvy outbreak; and nurses intentionally starving patients, leading to their death. I have browsed through some death records at Dunning and nearly every resident died of unnatural causes: pedatrophy or marasmus (malnutrition), falling through broken stair rails, falling into a broken elevator shaft, drowning, "violence by unknown man," etc. This degree of corruption continued even throughout 20th century. The medical director was forced to resign in 1988, and the state shut down the institution in 1993 due to an abhorrent degree of code violations.
The Cook County Insane Asylum at Dunning in the late 1800s. Source
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Patients slept on mattresses in crowded hallways at Dunning, 1947.
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Not quite two years later, on March 20th, 1902, a heartbreaking report of Iver's death was published in the "Nordisk Tidende," Brooklyn:
Iver F. Iverson has now found eternal rest.
Iver F. Iverson, who for many years ran a bookstore in connection with cigar and tobacco business, sale of steamship and railway tickets as well as money-home service, first in President Street and later on Columbia Street, but who met a few years ago many adversities, and left Brooklyn, is departed at death in the west.
Iverson was born in Kristiania [Oslo] about 44 years ago, and trained at a young age at sea, until he ended up in Chicago. In that city he was an agent for Anchor Line, and traveled around in his capacity as an official of this line. Then he got employment at the office in New York, until he for 13 years since then established himself as an independent businessman here in Brooklyn.
Together with Doctor Hans Volckmar, he bought “Nordiske Blade” [newspaper], but the business turned out even then to be so fragile that he withdrew from the company, and the magazine’s later fate is known to “Nordisk Tidende’s” readers. [It closed business in 1902.]
An incident of a very sad nature took place immediately after Iverson had entered into the business relationship with the doctor in the journal area. In his home in no. 156 President Street [it was 150 Carroll], he was one night exposed to a gas poisoning, and his life was rescued only with extreme intervention in the last moment.
Iverson never returned from this. He became brooding, neglected his once flourishing business, and sank deeper and deeper into a kind of quiet melancholy, which overpowered him completely. The business was sold and Iverson left with his family for Minneapolis. Nothing he did there was a success, and finally the man was completely lost sight of, until the announcement has come to us that he has said goodbye to the world. His old mother has gone before him, and now only his widow is left, there in Chicago, as well as the son, who there is employed at an architect's office in the same city.
Those who knew Iverson and stood a little close to him will surely think with sorrow of the way in which he ended. With all its faults, he was basically a gentleman and intelligent man, and no-one resents or harbors a grudge against him. There have been uttered certain things, but it’s easier to gossip than to prove. We know better, and it therefore saddens us doubly that we have had to scratch the last runes over a friend whom we had held dear. But God is more merciful than the people, and the rest he has found was perhaps the best for him. Your soul has gained rest, Iver, and rest in peace in God!
Iver F. Iverson, who for many years ran a bookstore in connection with cigar and tobacco business, sale of steamship and railway tickets as well as money-home service, first in President Street and later on Columbia Street, but who met a few years ago many adversities, and left Brooklyn, is departed at death in the west.
Iverson was born in Kristiania [Oslo] about 44 years ago, and trained at a young age at sea, until he ended up in Chicago. In that city he was an agent for Anchor Line, and traveled around in his capacity as an official of this line. Then he got employment at the office in New York, until he for 13 years since then established himself as an independent businessman here in Brooklyn.
Together with Doctor Hans Volckmar, he bought “Nordiske Blade” [newspaper], but the business turned out even then to be so fragile that he withdrew from the company, and the magazine’s later fate is known to “Nordisk Tidende’s” readers. [It closed business in 1902.]
An incident of a very sad nature took place immediately after Iverson had entered into the business relationship with the doctor in the journal area. In his home in no. 156 President Street [it was 150 Carroll], he was one night exposed to a gas poisoning, and his life was rescued only with extreme intervention in the last moment.
Iverson never returned from this. He became brooding, neglected his once flourishing business, and sank deeper and deeper into a kind of quiet melancholy, which overpowered him completely. The business was sold and Iverson left with his family for Minneapolis. Nothing he did there was a success, and finally the man was completely lost sight of, until the announcement has come to us that he has said goodbye to the world. His old mother has gone before him, and now only his widow is left, there in Chicago, as well as the son, who there is employed at an architect's office in the same city.
Those who knew Iverson and stood a little close to him will surely think with sorrow of the way in which he ended. With all its faults, he was basically a gentleman and intelligent man, and no-one resents or harbors a grudge against him. There have been uttered certain things, but it’s easier to gossip than to prove. We know better, and it therefore saddens us doubly that we have had to scratch the last runes over a friend whom we had held dear. But God is more merciful than the people, and the rest he has found was perhaps the best for him. Your soul has gained rest, Iver, and rest in peace in God!
What a devastating outcome-- and yet their respect and compassion for Iver is clear in the article. Based on the commentary I suspect his life ended by suicide. Based on the other accurate details in the article, I have no reason to doubt its report. Yet more questions than answers still remain. Was he committed to Dunning? Was he released? How can the city directory show him working in 1901 if he was in an asylum-- or was the directory printed months in advance? Why is there no mention of Iver's death in any Chicago newspaper, nor any death certificate nor coroner's report? I believe death certificates were required for all deaths, and coroner's reports were required for any violent or unusual deaths (homicide, suicide, etc.). The family kept meticulous records; we have specific names and dates for the other people and events in his life; and the subsequent deaths of both his widow and his mother-in-law were properly recorded and they have cemetery plots; so I cannot image why no death or burial record for Iver was recorded. Did he die at Dunning? Even so, I have been told that Dunning often published weekly lists of the deceased and gave relatives several days to come forward, but I can find no such mention of his name. I have tried numerous variations on the spelling, and common typos, all to no avail. A volunteer researcher with expertise on the Elgin State Hospital also found no record of his death there. So perhaps the family legend is true and Iver disappeared -- yet why can I find no missing person report, and why would the "Nordisk Tidende" publish an obituary with certainty, if his death were only presumed? I am only relieved to believe that he and his family members had solid closure to the events.
John Fitzgerald, a relative of Patrick, who was likely a friend of Iver's because he was listed on the coroner's certificate for Iver's mother, as of 1903 lived at 270 North Hoyne Avenue, which is where the Iversons had lived and where Johanne had died in 1899.
But the tragedies for the Iverson family did not end here. Although Iver's son A. Louis became a successful draftsman and married in the early 1900s, we will focus on those accomplishments on another page, and keep most of the tragedies confined to this page.
In 1905, Iver's widow Ellen lived at 1014 West Monroe. In the city directory, I have found this address also housed student Warren F. Towmley, but have not been able to find any other residents. Interestingly, a 1913 newspaper advertises 1014 West Monroe as a 46-room hotel centenary, so likely it had dozens of boarders. Ellen worked at a laundry at 811 West Madison, and this address also housed Deardorff and Little Portrait Company.
Just three months after the marriage of her son A. Louis, Ellen was hit by an automobile and died. The coroner's inquest reads, "Inquest No. 34433, upon the body of Ellen Maria Iverson. County of Cook, State of Illinois, on the 29th and 30th day of Sept. 1905. Verdict: The said Ellen Maria Iverson now lying dead at County Morgue in said City of Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois, came to her death on the 28th day of Sept. AD 1905, in the West Side Hospital from shock and hemorrhage following external violence, the result of accidental injuries received by being struck, knocked down and run over by an automobile in charge of Henry J. Mehrle at Western Ave. and Jackson Boul., on the same date. We the jury are of the opinion that Henry J. Mehrle used every effort to avoid the accident, and we therefore recommend his immediate discharge from police custody.”
Property delivered to son Arthur L. Iverson of 296 Irving Avenue was “Hand Bag and Cash $55.68, One Set of Teeth & Comb.”
Driver Henry J. Mehrle (actually Henry Joseph Merle) was employed as a secretary at A. H. Anderson Co., a well-known furniture store. He was 24 at the time of the accident.
Just three months after the marriage of her son A. Louis, Ellen was hit by an automobile and died. The coroner's inquest reads, "Inquest No. 34433, upon the body of Ellen Maria Iverson. County of Cook, State of Illinois, on the 29th and 30th day of Sept. 1905. Verdict: The said Ellen Maria Iverson now lying dead at County Morgue in said City of Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois, came to her death on the 28th day of Sept. AD 1905, in the West Side Hospital from shock and hemorrhage following external violence, the result of accidental injuries received by being struck, knocked down and run over by an automobile in charge of Henry J. Mehrle at Western Ave. and Jackson Boul., on the same date. We the jury are of the opinion that Henry J. Mehrle used every effort to avoid the accident, and we therefore recommend his immediate discharge from police custody.”
Property delivered to son Arthur L. Iverson of 296 Irving Avenue was “Hand Bag and Cash $55.68, One Set of Teeth & Comb.”
Driver Henry J. Mehrle (actually Henry Joseph Merle) was employed as a secretary at A. H. Anderson Co., a well-known furniture store. He was 24 at the time of the accident.
Coroner’s inquest for Ellen Marie Iverson. Obtained from the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at Northeastern Illinois University.
Newspapers from around the country relayed the details of this horrible accident. The spelling of Ellen's name is gravely inaccurate, but I was able to find the articles by searching for the name of the driver.
The Chicago Daily Tribune, 29 September 1905.
Nearly identical copy appears in newspapers throughout the country on 29 and 30 September:
- VICTIM OF THE DEVIL WAGON - Freeport Journal-Standard, Illinois
- VICTIM OF THE DEVIL WAGON - Elkhart Daily Review, Indiana
- KILLED BY CHICAGO AUTOMOBILE - Daily Illinois State Register, Springfield
- KILLED BY AN AUTOMOBILE - Daily Illinois State Journal, Springfield
- WOMAN KILLED BY AUTO - Daily Register Gazette, Rockford, Illinois
- AUTO PROVES DEADLY TO CONFUSED WOMAN - The Denver Post, Colorado
- AUTO RUNS DOWN AND KILLS WOMAN - Duluth News-Tribune, Minnesota
- AUTOMOBILE KILLS - The Evening News, Sault Saint Marie, Michigan
- [untitled report] - Daily People, New York, New York
- VICTIM OF THE DEVIL WAGON - Freeport Journal-Standard, Illinois
- VICTIM OF THE DEVIL WAGON - Elkhart Daily Review, Indiana
- KILLED BY CHICAGO AUTOMOBILE - Daily Illinois State Register, Springfield
- KILLED BY AN AUTOMOBILE - Daily Illinois State Journal, Springfield
- WOMAN KILLED BY AUTO - Daily Register Gazette, Rockford, Illinois
- AUTO PROVES DEADLY TO CONFUSED WOMAN - The Denver Post, Colorado
- AUTO RUNS DOWN AND KILLS WOMAN - Duluth News-Tribune, Minnesota
- AUTOMOBILE KILLS - The Evening News, Sault Saint Marie, Michigan
- [untitled report] - Daily People, New York, New York
Updates regarding the driver were published in the following days:
The death certificate confirms the information above, and further reveals that Ellen is buried at Forest Home Cemetery, one of the few non-denominational cemeteries at the time.
Death certificate for Ellen. Notice that Ellen is listed as a "widow" rather than being married. I still have not found any legal records confirming Iver's death, but given that Iver's reported passing in the "Nordisk Tidende" was only about three years prior to Ellen's death, while the legal requirement for presumed death was seven years of absence, I believe his death notice is accurate.
I contacted Forest Home by phone, and they indicated that Ellen is buried in section CL, plot 1679. They did not have the resources to investigate her burial information any further at that point.
In September 2014 I examined a microfilm of the Forest Home internment records, held at the Newberry Library in Chicago. As seen in the poor microfilm photograph below, Ellen's internment was dated 1 October 1905, number 25633. No address was listed, which was unusual compared to other individuals listed in the record. The disease listed was "Inquest pending." The physician was Hoffman and the undertaker was Scott.
In September 2014 I examined a microfilm of the Forest Home internment records, held at the Newberry Library in Chicago. As seen in the poor microfilm photograph below, Ellen's internment was dated 1 October 1905, number 25633. No address was listed, which was unusual compared to other individuals listed in the record. The disease listed was "Inquest pending." The physician was Hoffman and the undertaker was Scott.
Forest Home internment record for Ellen Iverson.
We had the opportunity to visit Forest Home in September 2014. The cemetery attendant was unable or unwilling to provide any information aside from a map to section CL. I had hoped to find an internment card that might reveal something about Iver, but this was not accessible. Section CL was mostly single plots, many without headstones. Ellen's plot was unmarked, which is not particularly surprising given her only child's young age likely precluding funds for a more formal burial. Volunteer genealogist David Hoogakker has done extensive research and photography of gravestones in the Forest Home Cemetery and does not recall locating the Iversons. He also indicates that since most of the plots in the CL section are individual rather than family, even if there is a remote possibility that Iver is buried in the same cemetery, it would likely be in a different location.
We were only able to obtain a sense of Ellen's grave location based on comparing plot numbers with surrounding headstones. It was only after returning to the car after an hour or so of exploring that I'd realized that my necklace had fallen off somewhere during the search. I had never lost a necklace before, and have not lost once since. I like to think it fell on Ellen's grave to serve as a marker.
We were only able to obtain a sense of Ellen's grave location based on comparing plot numbers with surrounding headstones. It was only after returning to the car after an hour or so of exploring that I'd realized that my necklace had fallen off somewhere during the search. I had never lost a necklace before, and have not lost once since. I like to think it fell on Ellen's grave to serve as a marker.
A partial map of Forest Home cemetery at 863 South Des Plaines Avenue in the Forest Park area of Chicago. The map faces north and is bounded on the east by Desplaines Avenue. The 1600 row in which Ellen is buried is roughly identified by a red mark on this map.
A September 2014 view of Forest Home cemetery, section CL, standing at the southeast corner and looking northwest. Ellen is buried in plot 1679, an unmarked grave. The 1600 row is shown from the rectangular headstone on the lower left of the picture, to the tree just beyond the patch of dirt. We estimated that plot 1679 is nearer the tree. The 1700s are to the west and the 1500s are to the east. On the other side of the tree begins section DL.
The probate record after Ellen's death shows her son Arthur Louis Iverson petitioning for the estate. The worth shown of less than $10,000 seems to have been on the high end, based on the other records I quickly glanced through, most of which were below $1,000. William J. Doyle is listed as a co-petitioner, and I am not familiar with that name. Based on other probate records it did not seem common to have a second person listed. Others appointed to appraise the estate include John D. Casey, who is listed on all the records and was some type of trustee; Neil J. Shannon, whose name is also written (and written more clearly) on most records, and who was later on a bank board; and Charles A. Smith, who was Arthur's wife's brother-in-law.
In glancing through a few neighboring probate records, it seems that it was common for widows to petition after their husbands' passing. That once again the records for the Iverson family were so detailed, and that yet once again I am unable to find a record of Ellen petitioning after Iver's presumed death, adds further mystery to the circumstances of his death.
According to an article regarding her death, Ellen had been helping support her elderly mother, Ingeborg Teslie (/Theslie), although they did not seemingly live together. Little can be found about Ingeborg in the Chicago records. In 1900 an "Inga Tischley," born February 1826 in Norway, lives at 206 North Desplains. According to the census she had two children, one still living, and worked as a pants maker. Our Ingeborg was born November 1826, had two children, one still living, and may have been a tailor since Ellen was listed as working at a laundry at the time of her death.
Chicago census, 1900.
Ingeborg died 1 December 1906 at age 80 at the Cook County Insane Asylum, known throughout the region as "Dunning." Likely she was moved here for extra care after Ellen died, as the death certificate states that she was a resident for only four months, and she had senile dementia.
Ingeborg's death certificate.
I have spoken with Barry Fleig, researcher of the Cook County Asylum, regarding Ingeborg. He writes,
"The official death register ... clearly shows Ingeborg dying at the insane asylum, one of several institutions at Dunning. What seems odd is that her death place is listed as Chicago in the Cook County death index. Usually, patients who die at Dunning have a notation of 'Dunning' or simply the township 'Jefferson.' Dunning in 1906 was not yet part of Chicago.
[...]
Burial in Mt. Olive [Cemetery] means that she was claimed by family. She was lucky to have family, because thousands were buried without benefit of same. The institution, in some years, would publish an inmate death in the newspaper, then give a few days for family to come forward. Failing that, the person was buried in Cook County Cemetery at Dunning at county expense. This was more the norm than not."
"The official death register ... clearly shows Ingeborg dying at the insane asylum, one of several institutions at Dunning. What seems odd is that her death place is listed as Chicago in the Cook County death index. Usually, patients who die at Dunning have a notation of 'Dunning' or simply the township 'Jefferson.' Dunning in 1906 was not yet part of Chicago.
[...]
Burial in Mt. Olive [Cemetery] means that she was claimed by family. She was lucky to have family, because thousands were buried without benefit of same. The institution, in some years, would publish an inmate death in the newspaper, then give a few days for family to come forward. Failing that, the person was buried in Cook County Cemetery at Dunning at county expense. This was more the norm than not."
Ingeborg was buried 5 December 1906 at Mount Olive Cemetery, at the time a Scandinavian cemetery. Over the phone a representative was able to tell me that Ingeborg was buried as part of a 3.5 person plot-- 3 people plus 1/2 space for carnations.
We visited the cemetery in September 2014, and, as indicated above, the two gentlemen in the office were amazingly generous with their time and resources. They obtained the internment card for Ingeborg, which verified that she was buried with two other Teslis. I asked if I might be permitted to write down the information on the card, and the director enthusiastically said I was also welcome to take pictures. He also said there was still an open space in the plot if I was interested! However, the interested party would need to be a direct descendent of the plot owner (John Tesley), which I am not. In fact, I am not yet sure how John Tesley or the two others in the plot are related to Ingeborg, so this remains an area for future exploration. Perhaps there are additional distant cousins still alive today! I have found a John/Joen Tessly/Tessley born 1871 in Chicago, so I will explore this line in the future. The two other members of the plot are Anna J. Tesley (headstone marked "sister" 1869-1895), and Kjesten Tesley (headstone marked "mother" 1844-1894). I speculate that "sister" and "mother" refer to the relation to John. I am unsure where John is buried and why he was not placed in the open space in this plot.
We visited the cemetery in September 2014, and, as indicated above, the two gentlemen in the office were amazingly generous with their time and resources. They obtained the internment card for Ingeborg, which verified that she was buried with two other Teslis. I asked if I might be permitted to write down the information on the card, and the director enthusiastically said I was also welcome to take pictures. He also said there was still an open space in the plot if I was interested! However, the interested party would need to be a direct descendent of the plot owner (John Tesley), which I am not. In fact, I am not yet sure how John Tesley or the two others in the plot are related to Ingeborg, so this remains an area for future exploration. Perhaps there are additional distant cousins still alive today! I have found a John/Joen Tessly/Tessley born 1871 in Chicago, so I will explore this line in the future. The two other members of the plot are Anna J. Tesley (headstone marked "sister" 1869-1895), and Kjesten Tesley (headstone marked "mother" 1844-1894). I speculate that "sister" and "mother" refer to the relation to John. I am unsure where John is buried and why he was not placed in the open space in this plot.
Mount Olive Cemetery card for the Tesli plot. The plot owner was John O. Tesley of 3839 North Hamlin Avenue. Note the purchase price of $42.00 on June 29th, 1895! Notice this was also the date of Anna Tesley's passing.
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The Tesli plot is K-116. Not only did the Mount Olive attendants give us a general map to section K, they also had a giant book showing each individual plot! From this they were able to guide us to the specific location in section K where we would find the plot.
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Tesli plot, K-116, in Mount Olive Cemetery, September 2014. This image points west, with section 3 across the road. Anna is buried in the northern plot, Kjesten in the center, and Ingeborg (unmarked) presumably on the south side.
At the time of Ingeborg's death, her only immediate family member was grandson Arthur Louis Iverson. Ingeborg was buried with other Teslis rather than with her daughter Elen at Forest Home, so it is likely that her burial was already arranged or taken care of by the Teslis rather than A. Louis.
So ends the tragedies that befell the Iverson family in Chicago. On the next page we will begin to present the legacy of their only child, Arthur Louis Iverson.