William H. Oswald
(1841-1912)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
1. Matilda Millhouse

William H. Oswald 1 2 3

  • Born: 20 Mar 1841, Weisenberg Twp., Lehigh, PA 1 3
  • Marriage (1): Matilda Millhouse
  • Died: 10 Jul 1912, Whitehall Twp., Lehigh, PA at age 71 1 3
  • Buried: 19 Sep 1912, Lowhill Twp.: Lowhill Church Cemetery, Lehigh, PA 1 3

   FamilySearch ID: LVJ3-JRN.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Cause of Death: suicide by hanging himself near North Coplay in Serners Urine Hole, sometime after July 8, 1912, the time when he disappeared, 10 Jul 1912, Whitehall Twp., Lehigh, PA. 1

2. Occupation: castrator on 10 Jul 1912 in Whitehall Twp., Lehigh, PA. 1

3. Newspaper: Allentown Democrat: Badly Decomposed body of Wm. Oswald Found at Abandoned Ore Mine, 18 Sep 1912, Allentown, Lehigh, PA. 4 SMALL BOYS MAKE GRUESOME FIND
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Badly Decomposed Body of Wm. Oswald Found at Abandoned Ore Mine.
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A gruesome discovery was made yesterday afternoon by two boys at an abandoned ore bed between Fullerton and Catasauqua. Edward Smith and Harry Duble were wandering around Steckel's ore bed, they came upon the skeleton of a man hanging from a tree. The head remained hanging to the rope, but the remaining part of the body had fallen to the ground. The boys spread the news and people in the vicinity went to the scene. In the crowd was Frank Oswald of Mickley's, who, by the clothes recognized the remains as those of his fathers, William Oswald, who disappeared from Mickley's July 8.
Mr. Oswald left the home of his son Frank, with whom he resided at Mickley's, saying he was going to Allentown to visit relatives, whose place he never reached. Later it was rumored that he had gone to Slatington, but this could not be confirmed, as he had not been seen there by anyone who knew him. Prior to his disappearance he remarked to several people that In case he would ever disappear no one should bother looking for him as he would hang himself in an out-of-the-way place where if his body was ever found, it would be long after his disappearance, which proved to be true. The place he selected is seldom visited. Word was sent to Coroner Goheen who, with Chief Bernhard, Sergeant Heckler and Harry Baker went to the scene. After viewing what remained of the aged suicide's body, an Inquest was deemed unnecessary.
Frederick and Scherer, the Catasauqua undertakers, removed the remains to their morgue.
The dead man was 72 years old. He is survived by his widow Mathilda, from whom he was separated the past 19 years, and the following children: James of Palmerton, Harry of Iron Bridge, George living near Egypt, Stephen of this city, and Frank of Mickley's, Mrs. Belsel and Mrs. Dleth of New York City, Mrs. Ida Spade of Hillside, and Mrs. Henry Adams of this city. He also has one sister, Mrs. Moses Rabenold of this city and two brothers one living near Reading and Benjamin of Pottsvllle. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.


William married Matilda Millhouse, daughter of David Muehlhouse and Carolina Frey. (Matilda Millhouse was born on 4 Sep 1852 in Lowhill Twp., Lehigh, PA,1 5 6 died on 6 Feb 1936 in Springfield Twp., Bucks, PA 1 6 and was buried on 10 Feb 1936 in Allentown: Linden Street Cemetery, Lehigh, PA 1 6.)


Sources


1 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1968 (Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates. Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.), Death Certificate 16628. Matilda Oswald. Father David Muelhouse. Mother Caroline Frey. Spouse William Oswald.

2 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1968 (Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates. Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.), Death Certificate 82408. Wm Oswald. Father Samuel Oswald.

3 Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=73256083.

4 Allentown Democrat (Allentown, PA), 18 Sep 1912, page 1. Small Boys Make Gruesome Find.

5 1860 United States Census, Year: 1860; Census Place: Lowhill, Lehigh, Pennsylvania; Roll: M653_1130; Page: 155; Image: 160; Family History Library Film: 805130.

6 Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8052764.



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