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Gerhard Helmerich Prull

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Birth	:	30 Jan 1848 Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), Germany
Death	:	12 Nov 1902 Kanawha, Hancock County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Pinegrove Memorial Park, Minchinbury, Blacktown City, Australia
Coordinate	:	-33.7886400, 150.8478990
Inscription	:	Prull Gerhard Prull Jan. 30, 1848 - Nov. 12, 1902 --- Marie wife of Gerhard Prull Nov. 25, 1849 - May 1, 1897 at rest
Description	:	From the Britt News Tribune (Britt, Iowa), 20 Nov 1902: SUICIDES BY POISONING Gerald Prull A Farmer of Amsterdam Ends Life by Taking Hog Medicine. Worrying over wrong done to creditors of a friend and threatened with lawsuits which he had been unfortunately drawn into, Gerhard Prull took his own life Wednesday by means of hog cholera medicine. During that day he asked if there was any strychnine or gun shells in the house and seemed very restless and worried. He wrote two letters both in German, one to his son Charley, and one to Geo. W. Mason. Both were received and... Read More	From the Britt News Tribune (Britt, Iowa), 20 Nov 1902: SUICIDES BY POISONING Gerald Prull A Farmer of Amsterdam Ends Life by Taking Hog Medicine. Worrying over wrong done to creditors of a friend and threatened with lawsuits which he had been unfortunately drawn into, Gerhard Prull took his own life Wednesday by means of hog cholera medicine. During that day he asked if there was any strychnine or gun shells in the house and seemed very restless and worried. He wrote two letters both in German, one to his son Charley, and one to Geo. W. Mason. Both were received and opened in the afternoon after his death. About three o'clock his youngest son Louie saw him take some powder out of a package, place it in a bottle, then go over to the tank and fill the bottle with water. He then went to the barn, where it is supposed he took the poison dose, threw away the bottle. Immediately coming to the house he was seen by the other children present, Lena and Mary, to be acting strangely. Seating himself in a rocking chair in the south room he began to show symptoms of the poison, repeatedly throwing his hands over his head and violently shaking. His daughter Lena attempted to give him a glass of milk as an emetic, but he could not take it. She then ran to the nearest neighbor, Jas. Wagner, nearly one-half mile, and telephoned to Doctor Judd, of this city, for his attendance. Returning, she found the unfortunate man lying on the floor and upon raising his head there was slight respiration. His death probably occurred within 30 minutes after taking the dose. The body lay with feet toward the north-east door, and upon the advice of the coroner was not removed until after he held the inquest. This he did Thursday forenoon, examining witnesses, taking testimony as to the premeditated act, clearly demonstrating to his satisfaction that death resulted as above stated. The package of powder was labeled nox vomica, and is believed to have been purchased in Britt about two months ago for a cholera cure. Its principal poisonous parts are strychnine and arsenic and a small amount is sufficient to kill a person. Gerhard Prull was born in Germany, near Bremen, and was 55 [sic - should be 54] years of age the 30th of last January. He came to the United States in 1881 [sic - other evidence suggests 1880], settling in Butler county, Iowa. From there he moved to Hancock county in the spring of 1893, residing on a farm 4 1/2 miles northwest, the scene of his death. His first wife, by whom he had eleven children, died in 1897. He remarried, but not proving congenial, a separation was had a year later. --- Kanawha Record. Before taking his life, Prull wrote a couple of letters: one to his son and the other to Geo. W. Mason, of Kanawha. The letters were written in German and when translated read as follows: "I am very unfortunate (or unhappy) and have made my children unhappy (or unfortunate). The notes Lein and Paul have made are false. Lein's notes are also false; are paid and Paul has given them back to him. Lein is altogether to blame. I have never beat anyone and now I have done it. They two both had a pint when we drank it and that is how it came. I don't know yet how I could do it. I have not slept since. Lein is altogether to blame. Paul would not have done it either. Please look after my poor children some, they are innocent. I have always held them from stealing and cheating and now I do it myself. The $800 is from the land; that belongs to George. Now goodbye, I probably will not be in town again. GERHARD PRULL." It seems that Knaack was farming near Kanawha and had got heavily in debt; and owing to the bad season was unable to pull through and according to Prull's letter had made a bill of sale of all his effects to Prull and Lein for the purpose of shutting out his creditors. It was this transaction that worked on Prull's mind and caused him to take his life. The letter gave Knaack's creditors a clue and they at once went to work on it and last Friday Lien [sic] settled the matter up by paying all claims. Prull was a man of considerable means and had always born a splendid reputation. His remains were brought to Britt last Saturday and buried in the cemetery here by the side of his wife. The affair is a very unfortunate one and the family will have the sympathy of the entire community.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Gerhard Helmerich Prull's memorial?
Gerhard Helmerich Prull's memorial is located at: Pinegrove Memorial Park, Minchinbury, Blacktown City, Australia.
When did Gerhard Helmerich Prull death?
Gerhard Helmerich Prull death on 12 Nov 1902 in Kanawha, Hancock County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Gerhard Helmerich Prull's memorial?
Latitude: -33.7886400
Longitude: 150.8478990

Family Members:

Spouse

Marie Ahrenholtz Prull

(1849 - 1897)

Children

(1875 - 1942)

(1876 - 1918)

(1877 - 1964)

(1879 - 1972)

(1883 - 1917)

(1887 - 1911)

(1888 - 1982)

Flowers:

Your great-great grandson

Left by Anonymous on 07 Apr 2007

Gone, but not forgotten. Your great-great-great granddaughter.

Left by Anonymous on 11 Mar 2008

Your great grandaughter

Left by Anonymous on 07 Jul 2011

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Pinegrove Memorial Park
Minchinbury, Blacktown City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.7886400, 150.8478990

2. Rooty Hill Presbyterian
Rooty Hill, Blacktown City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.7806700, 150.8513800

3. St Marys General Cemetery
St Marys, Penrith City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.7727050, 150.7878490

4. St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church Cemetery
Prospect, Blacktown City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.8045110, 150.9175750

5. St Mary Magdalene Anglican Churchyard
St Marys, Penrith City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.7705630, 150.7776050

6. Smithfield General Cemetery
Smithfield, Fairfield City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.8497800, 150.9252800

7. Smithfield Uniting Church Cemetery
Smithfield, Fairfield City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.8525100, 150.9373500

8. Smithfield Baptist Churchyard
Smithfield, Fairfield City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.8529380, 150.9374430

9. Smithfield Anglican
Smithfield, Fairfield City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.8536220, 150.9383850

10. Riverstone Cemetery
Riverstone, Blacktown City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.6853450, 150.8480790

11. Clydesdale Property
Marsden Park, Blacktown City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.6848034, 150.8077757

12. Castlebrook Memorial Park
Rouse Hill, Blacktown City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.6948310, 150.9219790

13. Penrith General Cemetery
Kingswood, Penrith City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.7561290, 150.7186600

14. St Phillips Church Cemetery
Marsden Park, Blacktown City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.6793810, 150.8167060

15. Animal Memorial Cemetery & Crematorium
Berkshire Park, Penrith City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.6887690, 150.7850410

16. Kemps Creek Cemetery and Crematorium
Kemps Creek, Liverpool City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.8958260, 150.7793870

17. Rouse Hill Anglican Cemetery
Rouse Hill, Blacktown City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.6810100, 150.9174190

18. St. Stephen's Penrith Anglican Church Columbarium
Penrith, Penrith City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.7552554, 150.7036009

19. St Stephens Anglican Cemetery
Penrith, Penrith City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.7558960, 150.7030470

20. Mays Hill Cemetery
Cumberland Council, Australia
Coordinate: -33.8193430, 150.9934850

21. Merrylands Anglican Church Columbarium
Merrylands, Cumberland Council, Australia
Coordinate: -33.8401100, 150.9870800

22. Lone Graves
Parramatta, City of Parramatta Council, Australia
Coordinate: -33.8186610, 150.9967800

23. St Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, Penrith
Penrith, Penrith City, Australia
Coordinate: -33.7544695, 150.7000862

24. St. John's Cemetery
Parramatta, City of Parramatta Council, Australia
Coordinate: -33.8168010, 150.9983310