Obit: Theis, Peter (1883 - 1909)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Theis, Gorbach, Benish, Harris, Kretschmer

----Source: Humbird Enterprise (Humbird, Clark County, Wis.) 06/05/1909)

Theis, Peter (1883 - 30 MAY 1909)

Peter Theis lost his life at an early hour last Sunday morning by drowning in the mill pond at Hixton.  On Saturday evening five young men, namely Peter and Nick Theis, Albert and lee Gorbach and John Benish, left here to spend the following day fishing at Hixton.  J.S. and Peter Harris also drove over to put in the day there, going in their own rig.  All were up soon after daybreak in an endeavor to make a good catch.  Peter Theis and Lee Gorbach had separated from the rest of the company and at the time the accident occurred were about to swim an arm of the pond to join their companions.  Theis was ahead and went down when he got to deep water.  Both called for help as he arose to the surface, but he disappeared before Gorbach could reach him.  Assistance was summoned from the village of Hixton and at about nine o’clock the body was recovered.

The remains were brought home and prepared for burial by Undertaker Kretschmer.  The funeral was held Wednesday forenoon and the burial was in the cemetery at Fairview.  Peter Theis was a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Theis and grew to young manhood at his home west of the village.  He was an industrious young man and had a large circle of friends.  There are left to mourn his death, his parents, three brothers and five sisters, besides a number of other relatives and friends.  Mr. Theis was in his twenty-sixty year.