Chester County PA Archives Obituaries.....Guss, George R. January 24, 1898 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Dan Lindley Danoh19344@hotmail.com May 18, 2006, 2:12 pm Daily Local News, January 25, 1898 Daily Local News, January 25, 1898 Captain George R. Guss, died suddenly yesterday afternoon. He was the publisher of the 'Chester County Democrat', and a former Chairman of the Democratic Committee. He was the eldest son of Colonel Henry R. Guss and was 52 years of age. He had received his title of Captain from the fact that during Lee’s invasion into Pennsylvania, he raised and captained an independent battery in the service of the United States, securing his men in this place and vicinity. He was a member of West Chester Lodge, No. 322, F & AM. Chester County Democrat, January 26, 1898 Captain George R. Guss, Editor and publisher of the 'Chester County Democrat', Monday afternoon, committed suicide by inhaling gas from a gas stove in his bathroom. Mr. Guss was ill and did not go down to his dinner. His wife and daughter were away and after his son Henry had eaten his dinner he went up to his father’ and when he was leaving Mr. Gus said “Good-bye Henry,” and the young man returned the farewell and went down to the office. The only person in the house beside Mr. Guss was the girl, Miss Abbie Morgan, who shortly after the young man left the house, heard Mr. Guss groaning and going up stairs, she glanced into Mr. Guss’ bedroom and finding it deserted and the groans coming from the bathroom, tried the door and finding it locked peeped through the keyhole, when the smell of gas nearly overcame her. She ____ed to the office and told Mr. Henry, who ran home and and go through a window off the porch into the bathroom (sic). While he was getting in, a physician had been sent for and when he opened the door Dr. Hoskins entered but could do nothing as Mr. Guss was dead. A note was bound on his bureau as follows: “Standing on the very brink of eternity, I ask the forgiveness of all as I forgive all. No flowers. No funeral. Good-bye. God bless you. G.” A coroner’s inquest was held and a verdict in accordance with the facts was rendered. George R. Guss was in the 52d year, and was a son of Gen. Henry R. Guss, who commanded the 97th regiment during the civil war, and for a long while was identified with the 'Chester County Democrat', of which paper he was editor and publisher. He served for some time as chairman of the Democratic County Committee. As a young man he was regarded as a citizen with a bright future, owing to his gentlemanly bearing and engaging manners. During the Pittsburg (sic) riots of 1877 he was Second Lieutenant in the Griffin Battery and commanded three of the nine guns, which were sent up to the Smoky City to quell the disturbances. During 1863, a battery was raised in West Chester and Captain Guss was elected Captain filling the position with rare good judgment. He was a Mason and a member of the Grand Army. He married Miss Gould, a daughter of Payne Gould. Their union was blessed with two children. Additional Comments: American Republican, April 29, 1873 GUSS-GOULD- On April 24th, at the residence of the bride's father, by the Rev. Jos. S. Evans, George R. Guss, to Lavinia A., youngest daughter of Payne Gould, all of West Chester. Note: a photo of Henry R. Guss and the 97th Infantry is available under ‘Military’ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/chester/military.htm George and his wife Lavinia were buried in Greenmount Cemetery. Tombstone images can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/chester/greenmount0.htm This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 3.8 Kb