Obituary Record

Gretchen Hansen
Died on 12/19/1914

None

Three newspaper articles

#1~Published in the Enterprise December 25, 1914

A YOUNG GIRL SUICIDES

GRETCHEN HANSEN, A FORMER RESIDENT OF BLAIR, HAD TAUGHT SCHOOL AT OAKLAND

MOTIVE THOUGHT TO BE TROUBLE OVER SCHOOL AFFAIRS

DRINKS CARBOLIC ACID WHILE GOING HOME

(Dispatch to the Omaha World Herald, Dec. 21.)

Tekamah, Nebr., Dec. 20~Miss Gretchen Hansen, a young lady about 24 years old, committed suicide last evening by drinking poison while being taken to her home at the Clarence Weaver farm, east of Tekamah, where her parents work. She had been in Omaha for the day and returned in the best of spirits, as was vouched by other Tekamah people who had been speaking with her. She hired a livery rig, and when a few miles outside the city asked the driver, Charles Show, if he had any objections to her taking a little drink. He replied no, and soon afterward heard what appeared to be struggling in the rear seat. Looking back he found her in the throes of death. Being near a farm house he stopped, but before he could get to the farm yard the girl was dead.

The motive which it is thought has caused her death was brooding over trouble she had in Oakland, where, until early November, she had been employed as a school teacher, and the trouble caused her dismissal.

Since losing her position in Oakland, she had been living at the Clarence Weaver farm, east of this city, where she and her mother worked, while the father worked on a farm belonging to Mr. Weaver, a few miles away. For a short time she was employed as an assistant in the county superintendent’s office, but since then has done nothing.

Miss Hansen has a sister in Sioux City, Miss Bell Schevalier, who has been notified, and arrived today to be with her father and mother, who are nearly prostrated by her sudden death.

The Hensen’s (not Hansen’s) were formerly residents of Blair for a number of years. The father, “Doc” Hensen, was well-known here, as was an elder daughter, Belle. They moved from here up onto the Arizona bottoms, east of Tekamah, several years ago.

#2~Published in The Pilot December 23, 1913

Miss Gretchen Hansen committed suicide by taking carbolic acid last Saturday evening while being driven in an auto to the Clarence Weaver farm, east of Tekamah, where her parents, Mr. and Mrs. “Doc” Hensen, work. She was in Omaha during the day, returning on the evening train. She hired an auto of Mr. Welsh, the liveryman to take her out to the farm. When within about a mile of the farm she asked the driver if he objected if she took a little drink. Soon he heard what appeared to be struggling in the rear seat and found her in the throes of death. He was near a farm house and took her in but she died in a very few minutes. Up to a short time ago she had been teaching school in the Oakland schools but lost her place through extreme nervousness. Since then she had done so many strange things that it is believed that she wasn’t in her right mind. Father O’Driscol went up to Tekamah Monday morning and after looking into the case decided this was the case and conducted the funeral at Tekamah yesterday, though, Catholic priests do not conduct the funeral of those who are in their right mind when they commit suicide. Beside her father and mother she leaves two brothers, Will, of this city, and Frank who also works for Mr. Weaver, near Tekamah, and two sisters, Nell, of Denver, and Mrs. Belle Schevalier, of Sioux City. She was but 24 years of age and was a very bright and attractive looking girl.

(There is some disagreement in these newspaper articles, regarding her last name: Hansen vs. Hensen)

# 3 - - Published in the Tribune December 23, 1914

TAKES POISON

Miss Gretchen Hansen, a young lady about 24 years old, committed suicide last evening by drinking poison while being taken to her home at Clarence Weaver farm, east of Tekamah, where her parents worked. She had been in Omaha for the day and returned in the best spirits, as was vouched by other Tekamah people who had been speaking with her. She hired a livery rig, and when a few miles outside of the city, asked the driver Charles Show if he had any objection to her taking a little drink. He replied no, and soon afterward heard what appeared to be struggling in the rear seat. Looking back he found her in the throes of death. Being near a farm house he stopped, but before he could get to the farm yard the girl was dead.

The motive which it is thought has caused her death was brooding over trouble she had in Oakland, where, until early November, she had been employed as a school teacher, and the trouble caused her dismissal.

Since losing her position in Oakland she had been living at the Clarence Weaver farm, east of this city, where she and her mother worked, while the father worked on a farm belonging to Mr. Weaver, a few miles away. For a short time she was employed as an assistant in the county superintendent’s office, but since then has done nothing.

Miss Hansen has a sister in Sioux City, Mrs. Bell Schevalier, who has been notified, and arrived today to be with her father and mother, who are nearly prostrated by her sudden death.-Tekamah dispatch to World-Herald, Dec. 20

Miss Hansen was a former resident of Blair where she lived with her parents a number of years and has a brother, William, who works for M. Metzinger, still living here. We understand that Miss Hansen had been suffering from a general nervous break down for several months past, and it is thought by her friends here that this was the cause of her rash act. Funeral services were held Tuesday in Tekamah.

Printed in the Washington County Enterprise on 12/25/1914


[BACK]