Obituary of Ralph Potter, Bremer County, Iowa
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	Transcribed by Barb Braun, February 8, 2000.  
	Questions, please Email: seawave8@hotmail.com

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BREMBER COUNTY, IOWA
OBITUARIES 1878-1984

The obituary was obtained from the Wavery Public Library in a 
loose-leaf notebook entitled: 
PLAINFIELD AND BREMER COUNTY, IOWA OBITUARIES 1878-1984.  
Compiled by HAROLD BRIGGS.  
Includes Materials collected by Mrs. CAROLINE HICKS.  
Indexed by LISA GROTE, JANINE FREESE, SALLY SCHWEER, AND ADRIENNE LAWLOR. 
Dated July, 1984 by PATRICIA COFFIE, Director. 

TRANSCRIPTION NOTE: The exact date of the obituary was not included in 
the body of the article.  Hand -written at the top of the page was the 
date 1880-1890.  Where the obituary first appeared was not indicated 
in any of the informational pages. 
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Suicide or Accident, Which? 
_________
Dated: 1880-1890
We are called to record the sad death of RALPH POTTER, at the home of 
his parents in this city, on Sunday evening last, under the most 
distressing circumstances.  He died from an over-dose of laudanum, 
administered by his own hand, whether intentionally or by accident, 
will perhaps never be known, as he left no word behind him.  In a 
conversation with his father Tuesday, he told us that Ralph came 
home late Saturday night somewhat intoxicated, but not so much so 
as to incapaciate him lighting his own lamp and retiring to bed.  
In the morning, which was Sunday, he arose, washed himself, and 
appeared cheerful, humming a song as he often had done.  After 
eating his breakfast he wrote a letter, and then changing his clothes, 
he said he would go to the post office and mail his letter.  That was 
the last seen of him until after 2 o'clock in the afternoon, their 
dinner hour being about 2 o'clock.  Some time later Ralph arrived 
at home, and his mother observed that he was under the influence of 
liquor.  She said, "Ralph, you are late, but I saved you a dish of oyster 
soup, which is hot and ready for you."  He replied, "Mother, I don't want 
anything to eat."  He played awhile with his niece and then went to his 
room and lay down upon the bed, as was supposed to take a nap, which had 
been a custom of his, and his parents thought nothing strange of it.  
Poor fellow.  It was his last sleep.  After some time had elapsed, 
Mr. Potter heard him snoring loudly, and it attracted his attention.  
He went to the door, which was locked and ?  ?  ?  and concluded that 
the breathing did not sound natural.  He placed his ear to the key-hole, 
and became still stronger impressed that the snoring was not natural, and
so remarked to his wife, who came to the door and listened, and remarked 
that she guessed it was natural, as she had heard him snore while he was 
sleeping.  The more Mr. Potter listened, the more he became uneasy, and 
said he would break open the door, but his wife thought that he had better
wait a short time longer.  In the meantime Mr. Potter sent down for his 
son-in-law, Carl Couse, who answered the summons, and on arriving, listened 
for a moment and said the breathing was not natural.  He at once broke open 
the door and found the poor boy in the throes of death.  A 4-once bottle of 
laudauum stood upon the stand and a teacup beside it, which told the sad story.  
Dr. Barber was summoned at once, but the deadly drug had done its work, 
the victim dying in about 20 minutes after the arrival of the physician.  
Ralph was a bright business young man, but a victim to the accursed cup; 
we are told that often when sobering from a spree he would take laudauum 
to steady his nerves, and it might have been that this time he took an 
overdose unintentionally.  However this may be, this young man was a victim 
of liquor, the accursed stuff that destroys more lives, is the result of 
more crime, and brings more sorrow into the homes of our land than all other 
evils combined; it is the devil incarnate sending to the grave our brightest 
and most promising young men-a monster for whose continued existence not one 
honest work can be said. 

To the bereaved family there goes out the broadest sympathy of our entire 
community in the loss of their youngest boy, who was their fondest hope in 
their old days.  It is a sorrowful stroke to them-but beyond the darkness 
of the most bitter trials of earth, look to Him for comfort who notes even 
the sparrows fall. 

The funeral took place from the family residence on Wednesday at 2 o'clock 
Rev. Philo Gorton officiating. 
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Transcribed by Barb Braun, February 10, 2000.  Any questions, please Email me at; 
                                               Seawave8@hotmail.com