MRS. HALLER’S DEATH

Had Suffered from Nervous Prostration for Years and There Seemed No Hope of Permanent Relief.

One of the saddest deaths in the history of Blair, and none could be sadder in the history of man, occurred last Thursday morning when Mrs. B. F. Haller ended her life at her husband’s office by taking two ounces of carbolic acid. Never have our citizens been so deeply stirred as they were that day when the news of the awful tragedy was flashed over the city with lightning-like rapidity. Pity for her who had suffered more than she could bear and the keenest sympathy for the grief-stricken family filled all hearts to the full.

Mrs. Haller came uptown in the morning and did some shopping, and seemed to be in an unusually happy frame of mind. She bought some things of Geo. Haller at the drug store and told George she was coming down to see the twins the next day.

She started out of the store and came back and said she wanted a couple ounces of carbolic acid for the drain as it had been very bad of late. He sold it to her without a suspicion as to the real purpose for which she had evidently planned to use it.

She went home, evidently planning to end her life there, but changed her mind, for she wanted to see her husband again and to be with him when the sad end should come. So she took a bouquet of sweet peas with her and went up to the office at a little past 11 o’clock, and after resting a few minutes asked Mr. Haller to go out and get some meat for dinner.

He went over to Lantry’s for the meat, and while he was gone she took the deadly acid and when he returned he found her lying on the floor near the door, and near also to death’s heavy door. Drs. Stewart and Palmer came at once and an effort was made to use the stomach pump, but it was too late, the tongue and throat were swollen so they could not.

In a few minutes more it had done its work and death released the troubled spirit for its flight into the great deep we call eternity. The face that had been lined by suffering became peaceful and calm in the bright light that shines from the other shore where no sorrow and suffering are.

The body was taken home in F.M. Cassetter’s auto, and a sad homecoming it was for all the family. The blow was swift and sudden and yet they understood, for her health had been so extremely bad for so long. Early that morning she had had an unusually bad spell which evidently was the basis for her determination to end all.

Mrs. Haller had been a sufferer from neurasthenia, and the long siege of typhoid fever in the family about a year ago almost completely exhausted her. All four of the children were taken down one after the other, and the hired girl died of the dread disease.

Finally Mrs. Haller took it, and after some time was sent to a sanitarium in Wisconsin where she remained about six months. She did not improve as she should and, despairing of ever regaining her health, came home. Later she took the Emmanuel treatment in Omaha and that too failed to restore her. She became desperate at last and her final action is therefore easily understood.

Three of the children were at home, Clarkson, Helen and Miriam, and the oldest son, Lucien, arrived from Round Lake, Minn. Saturday morning. Mrs. Haller’s sister, Mrs. J. H. Nash had been here for several days visiting and had just reached home in Cedar Rapids when she received the sad news and came back the same day, Saturday.

The funeral was held at the family residence on Grant street at 3:30 Saturday afternoon, Rev. Marsh officiating, assisted by Rev. John Williams of Omaha. The pallbearers were: E. C. Jackson, W. J. Cook, S. W. Chambers, Herman Aye, C. T. Farnham and Jas. Ware. Interment was made in the family lot in the Blair cemetery.

Miriam E. Castetter was born at South Bend, Ind. March 23rd, 1856, and came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. Castetter, to this county in 1857. She was married to B. F. Haller April 3rd, 1883 in St. Mary’s Episcopal church by Rev. Doherty. She was always a loyal member and active worker in her church, and her help and presence will be greatly missed.

Besides the husband and children above named she leaves a brother, F. M. Castetter, president of the Banking House of A. Castetter, and two sisters, Mrs. F. H. Claridge of this city and Mrs. J. H. Nash of Cedar Rapids, Ia. Her mother died May 29th last, and her sudden death had told heavily upon her in her weakened condition.

Mrs. Haller was a bright, refined and capable woman, a member of the Monday Afternoon Club, always a great reader and was one of the founders of the Blair Library Association. Being one of the heirs of the late A. Castetter estate she was a heavy stockholder and one of the directors of the Castetter bank.

She was a kind and devoted wife, mother and neighbor, and a loving and loyal friend. She suffered bravely for many years and is now at rest with the good Master she loved so much and served so well.

#2-11 Aug., 1909 - The Tribune - Miriam (or) Meriam) Haller

Blair, Neb., Aug. 5 - (Special Telegram) - Meriam, wife of B. F. Haller, died suddenly in the office of her husband about 11 o’clock this morning. Mrs. Haller had been suffering at intervals from extreme nervous prostration. About a year ago her family, two daughters, two sons and herself underwent a severe siege of typhoid fever, lasting over half a year, Mr. Haller being the only member of the family escaping the disease. This morning she went downtown and after doing some shipping went to her husband’s office where he left her for a few moments to go to the butcher shop. Returning he found her dying. Mrs. Haller was the oldest daughter of the late A. Castetter, founder of the Banking House of A. Castetter, and sister of F. M. Castetter, president of that bank of which she was a heavy stockholder and director. Mrs. Haller was born in South Bend, Ind. March 23, 1856; and married Mr. Haller April 3, 1883 - Bee. The funeral was held Saturday afternoon.

#3-12 Aug., 1909 - Blair Democrat - Miriam C. (Castetter) Haller

TAKES HER OWN LIFE

One of the saddest incidents it has ever been our lot to chronicle is the pathetic death of Mrs. B. F. Haller, who took her own life, presumably by swallowing carbolic acid in her husband’s office last Thursday morning about eleven o’clock.

Ever since the family suffered from a siege of typhoid fever, herself being one of the victims of the malady, Mrs. Haller has been in a very nervous condition. It was some time in January of last year that one of the children first took sick with typhoid and had only commenced to convalesce when another one of the children took down, every member of the family with the exception of Mr. Haller having suffered. When Mrs. Haller was convalescing she was permitted to visit the room of Clarkson who was then in a very bad condition and not expected to live. The shock of this so upset her that from that time on she needed constant care and attention, and as soon as she was able to travel Mr. Haller took her to the sanitarium at Kenosha, Wisconsin where she remained for several months. Coming back home she showed no great improvement, although the fact that all her children were rapidly recovering from their sickness gave her some solace.

However, hard as the family tried to make themselves think that “Mother” was better and would soon be herself, her old nervousness soon showed itself and she was taken to Omaha and put under the care of a specialist for some three months. Treatment here failed to bring her back to her normal condition, and she was brought home where everything had been done to make her as easy and comfortable as possible, but what she suffered mentally from, the one great idea of being a confirmed invalid that possessed, can only be realized by the members of the family. In the hope of giving her as much quiet and making her as comfortable as possible, a room of the home had been enlarged and was almost ready for her occupancy when she took her life.

Another thing that perhaps hastened the end was the death of her mother, Mrs. A. Castetter, who died several weeks ago, and who Mrs. Haller always relied on for sympathy and comfort, next to that she was always accorded by her husband and children. At the time of the funeral of her mother Mrs. Haller was completely overcome with grief and suffered a sinking spell while on the steps of the house on her way to the carriage.

For nearly all summer Mrs. Haller would come downtown and spend some time each day with her husband at the office, the rear room being fitted up with a couch and a large easy chair. It was nearly always cool and quiet here, and she would bring her knitting or fancy work and pass away the time, seeming to be really contented to be thus close to her husband.

On the morning of the sad affair Mrs. Haller walked uptown to do some shopping quite early, being noticed up on the streets as early as half past eight. Going into Haller’s drug store with several bundles in her arms, she commenced talking with her nephew, George, and talked so bright and acted so cheerful that he couldn’t help noticing the change in her - she seemed like her old self. After passing the time of day and inquiring about George’s wife and babies, she made the statement that she hadn’t seen them but one since they were born, but intended to go out and see them the next day. Remaining in the store for several minutes, nearly all the time talking in a light vein and inquiring after the family, she started to leave. Getting near the door she turned quite suddenly and said as though the thought had just struck her, “George, our drain pipes are smelling again: don’t you think I had better take some carbolic acid down and disinfect them?” The thought that she might want the acid for the purpose of doing away with herself never occurred to George, and asking her if a couple of ounces would be enough, commenced to get it for her. After getting the acid Mrs. Haller walked home with her bundles, evidently secreting the bottle of carbolic acid in her clothes. She remained home with the children a few hours, seeming feeling in better spirits than she had for some time, and about eleven o’clock she announced her intention of going down to Mr. Haller’s office and walking home to dinner with him. Immediately after she left the house the children telephoned their papa that she had started out for the office, and for him to meet her. This was about eleven o’clock. As soon as he received the message Mr. Haller started in the direction he knew his wife always came and met her on the corner a block south of his office. When he met her Mrs. Haller had a bouquet of flowers she had picked in the yard and holding it out to him as he met her said, “See, papa, I brought you a bouquet for your desk.”

Mr. Haller accompanied her to the office and thinking of a little business he had to transact with John Smith at the Lantry shop, left her with the assurance from her that she wouldn’t be lonesome or care; she would sit where it was cool in the easy chair in the back office. Congratulating himself that Mrs. Haller was looking brighter and seemingly feeling better, Mr. Haller left her, returning in about five or ten minutes. As he entered his office, he noticed her in the large chair sitting in an uncomfortable and reclining position, and asking her if she did not feel well, was astounded to receive no response. Hastening to her he placed her on the lounge and hurried for medical aid. And it was not until the physicians had arrived that her true condition, and what she had done, became evident to Mr. Haller. Despite the applying of restoratives by the physicians, the fatal dose had done its work and just a little before noon the spirit of the unfortunate woman wended its easy to its Maker.

In the meantime the members of the family had been called and just a few minutes before Mrs. Haller expired one of her daughters noticed a note on Mr. Haller’s desk, which proved to be a last message. It was written on one of Mr. Haller’s letterheads and was merely as follows:

“I wanted to die near you.” - It was neither dated or signed - just those few words as though the poor woman’s last thoughts were of her husband and that it would be easier to leave this life where she could be near him who had shared her joys and sorrows for the past twenty six years, and who in all those years had never given her a cross word.

Whether Mrs. Haller had written this short message just prior to taking the carbolic acid or just after will never be known. It was written in a scrawling hand, with many irregular lines, showing plainly the great mental and nervous strain she was suffering under. The supposition, however, is that the message was written before she took the poison because there was no evidence of any acid having been spilled on the floor or on the chair in which she was found. The burned condition of the inside of her mouth and tongue showed plainly the cause of her death, but a queer thing about the whole occurrence was the fact that there was no smell of carbolic acid at any time, the olive oil and alcohol administered as an antidote having probably killed the fumes of the acid.

A diligent search of the office and the premises near has up to this time failed to locate the bottle which contained the acid, and it is a mystery where the poor woman had it after swallowing the fatal potion.

With the permission of the coroner, the remains were immediately removed to the Haller home where funeral services were held at 3:30 Saturday afternoon. The services were conducted by Rev. Marsh, and the remains were laid to rest in the family lot in the cemetery.

Miriam C. Castetter was born in South Bend, Indiana March 23, 1856, and came to Washington county with her mother in the summer of 1857, stopping first at the old town of DeSoto, and later moving to this place with her parents when the town was first started. She was married to B. F. Haller at the Episcopal church in Blair by Rev. Doherty on the 3rd of April, 1883, and was the mother of four children, two boys and two girls, who together with the grief-stricken husband survive her. Lucien, the oldest son, who was in Minnesota at the time of her death, is 24 years old, Clarkson is 10 and Helen and Miriam, the twins, are 18 years of age.

Mrs. Haller was very active in Episcopal church matters and was practically the founder of the Episcopal church in Blair. Her father had donated a lot for church purposes and Mrs. Haller, when still a young woman, took it upon herself to raise the funds for the building of the edifice - and it was through her efforts that the church was dedicated practically out of debt. She was always a great worker and no task was too hard for her to assume the management of if it seemed to her that the community might be bettered and her church the gainer. She was, until her affliction, an active member of the woman’s Club and was a well read and highly educated woman. As a mother she was more than devoted to her family and husband, and in that household a light has been removed that had been its sunshine since its beginning.

In her death the community sustains a loss hard to replace and we are sure the bereaved family has the sympathy of all in its great affliction.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #114996304