Article Text
# DEATH SADDENED CITY Burial of Charles H. Wiegand, Cashier of F. & M. Bank, Largest Ever Held Here. The funeral of Charles H. Wiegand, held last Saturday afternoon in Eagle River, was the largest ever witnessed here, over a hundred autos bearing sorrowing friends in their tribute of a citizen who had made Eagle River his home since boyhood. The services in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Finn Lawler, in the Congregational church and at the graveside lasted for a period of over two hours. Friends and acquaintances from every walk in business and social life followed the body to its resting place. After leaving the church the body was given over to the Masonic order, who in turn rendered the final burial tributes to their dead. On Tuesday morning of last week Mr. Wiegand, cashier of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Eagle River, after opening the bank and admitting two of the state examiners, excused himself, entered his car and drove north on highway 26 for about seven miles, turned off toward the railroad track on an old road running west. Evidence showed that he had stopped the car near a swamp, left the ear running and within fifty feet of the auto had shot himself through the heart with a 38-calibre revolver. From all appearance when the body was discovered, death had been instantaneous. This happened somewhere about ten o'clock Tuesday forenoon. Wednesday evening a farmer living near where the car was parked, notified the officers that the body of a man was lying at the edge of a swamp and a car stood nearby. Investigation by Sheriff Bowker and the coroner told the tale of how Wiegand had taken his life and inquiry of the people in that section showed that they had seen the car the day previous and saw that the engine was running, but gave no further thought, that being nothing unusual. The engine had run until all the gas was exhausted. Lying beside the body was the revolver and the coroner's jury on Thursday gave a verdict of suicide. Mr. Wiegand had underwent an operation a number of months ago for appendicitis, and at that time he barely came through with his life. Since then he has been more or less nervous, and adding that and the average business worries connected with the bank and other affairs, his nervous system was shattered, which without a doubt caused the taking of his life. No other cause can be attributed for, while the bank was closed pending his disappearance and afterwards, nothing has been discovered outside the ordinary run of banking affairs. There is no shortage shown or any other delinquency; this is the statement made by the officials. Charles H. Wiegand was born in Appleton on April 26, 1886, being at the time of his death slightly over thirty-nine years of age. When he was in his infancy he became a resident of Eagle River; attended the different branches of our schools and finally graduated with the 1902 class. He then entered the North Wisconsin Academy at Ashland and in 1910 the Minnesota State University, being graduated from the law department of the latter institution in 1913. The same year he was admitted to the state bar of Wisconsin and opened a general law office in Eagle River in connection with the abstract offices of his brother-in-law Finn Lawler. The spring of 1918 he was e'ected cashier of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Eagle River, carrying that position until the time of his death. During 1915-16 he served as district attorney of Vilas county. While this country was involved in the World War he proved his true Americanism by patriotic home work; was a member of the Legal Advisory Board, one of the executive committee of the Council of Defense, secretary of the Vilas County Chapter American Red Cross and fuel administrator. Mr. Wiegand was married to Opal Ferguson in St. Louis on June 29, 1916. Two children, Marjorie