Surnames: Southard

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 01/25/1912

Southard, Asa Varney (3 Jan. 1831 - 21 Jan. 1912)

Sunday morning Asa Southard met his death by accidental poisoning at his home on the north side. About 10 o’clock in the morning, Mr. Southard, suffering from a very severe cold, went to the cupboard to take a drink of brandy. He and his wife were alone in the room at the time, and as Mr. Southard returned from the cupboard, Mrs. Southard asked him what he had done. He replied that he had taken a drink of brandy, and upon being asked which bottle he had taken it from, indicated a bottle which contained carbolic acid. Mr. Southard was an old man of 81 years of age, and the poison soon did its work. A doctor was immediately summoned, but the old gentleman had passed away before his arrival, about twenty minutes after he had taken the poison.

Asa Varney Southard was born Jan. 3, 1831 in Somerset county, Maine. He was united in marriage to Helen Amanda Townsend on July 3, 1870, and for many years they have been respected citizens of this city. Mr. Southard was a pleasant old gentleman and was well-liked by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, five sons, one brother, three daughters, five grandsons and seven grand-daughters. The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the family residence.

--Neillsville Times