Obit: Roethe, Henry E. (1866 - 1939)

Contact:  Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Roethe, Fisher, Finnegan, Frantz

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) Thurs., 24 Aug. 1939

Roethe, Henry E. (24 May 1866 - 17 Aug. 1939)

FOUND DEAD IN LAKE

Publisher and a Former Senator Was Well Known Here

"Thirty" was written last Thursday to the life of Henry E. Roethe, 73, of Fennimore, co-publisher of the Fennimore Times, and former state senator and assemblyman who was well-known to residents in and about Neillsville, Wis.

The "30 dash," printer’s symbol for "the end," was added to his colorful career when the body was found in the waters of Lake Monona, Madison, in the early morning. Mr. Roethe had been in poor health for some time, and it was against the advice of his physician that he recently left a Madison hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment for a heart ailment.

Sen. Edward J. Roethe, brother who succeeded him as state senator in 1924, told Coroner Wayne Fisher that Mr. Roethe had been usually despondent since his return from the hospital. Following an examination of the body by Dr. W. L. Finnegan of Madison, Coroner Fisher expressed belief that Mr. Roethe had taken his own life, and said no inquest would be held.

A brother-in-law of Mrs. Edward J. (Bessie Frantz) Roethe, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Frantz of Neillsville, Mr. Roethe had visited Neillsville many times and had made many friends and acquaintances here.

He was born May 24, 1866, in Whitewater, and moved to Fennimore shortly before the turn of the century. At that time he became co-publisher of the Fennimore Times with his brother, the present senator, and in the same year was a presidential elector and messenger to Washington.

With a long life devoted to public service, Mr. Roethe started his career in public office early in the 1900’s. His first office was that of village clerk. In succession he held the offices of town clerk and village president. For three terms, starting in 1907, he was sent to the assembly of Grant County voters. The following year - in 1914 - he was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for governor. In 1916 he was elected to his first term in the state senate, a position he held until 1924, when he was succeeded by his brother.

Surviving, besides the brother, Senator Roethe, are his widow; and a son, Harry, of Washington.

 

 


© Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

 

Show your appreciation of this freely provided information by not copying it to any other site without our permission.

 

Become a Clark County History Buff

 

Report Broken Links

A site created and maintained by the Clark County History Buffs
and supported by your generous donations.

 

Webmasters: Leon Konieczny, Tanya Paschke,

Janet & Stan Schwarze, James W. Sternitzky,

Crystal Wendt & Al Wessel

 

CLARK CO. WI HISTORY HOME PAGE