----Source: Clark County Republican & Press (Neillsville, Wis.) 07/20/1916

Schoengarth, Edward (1 NOV 1881 - 17 Jul 1916)

Probably no event in our local history has so shocked and saddened this community, as the death of Edward Schoengarth by his own hand Monday morning, July 17, 1916. For several days past it had been known by a few personal friends that he was not well, but it was not generally known that it was anything serious. It seems that for some time past he had quite serious stomach trouble, which physicians told him might be cancer and call for an operation. Almost constant pain and sleeplessness, wore upon his nerves, and intensified the strain of business and the cares and worries of life, which in health would have seemed as nothing.. About eight o’clock Monday morning he secured a revolver and without any warning took his life.

Edward Schoengarth was born in Neillsville, Clark County Nov. 1, 1881, being the son of Mr. and Mrs. Aug. Schoengarth. He lived practically all his life here, passing through the grades of the city school and graduating from high school in the class of 1901. He later attended the state University for a short time, and soon after entered the Commercial State Bank, where for fourteen years he has been employed, for many years past being assistant cashier. He was a thorough competent business man, honest and honorable, accurate in his work and fair in all his dealings with the public. He rarely took a vacation, and promptly each day took his place at the teller’s window, year in and year out. He lived at home with his parents and was greatly attached to them as they were to him, the tie growing stronger in their declining years. To them and to his only brother, Judge O.W. Schoengarth, this blow comes weth especial severity. On every hand is heard words of deepest sympathy for them. While the community feels sorely the loss of this able young man, the family circle feels it still more keenly. Only the healing hand of time can soothe this sorrow, and yet it is possible for the deep sympathy and helpful words of friends to mitigate it in some degree. The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon, under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge, of which deceased was an honored member, rev. G.W. Longenecker assisting in the services.

The Mayor and City Council, of which deceased was a member from the Third Ward, attended in a body.