Children:
John H. Cordes Jr. (1891-1943)
Carl George Cordes (1893-1978)
Sophia Marie Cordes (Maroney) Miller (1895-1985)
Marie "Meta" Cordes Woodward (1896-1954)
Henry Herman Cordes (1899-1963)
George William Cordes (1901-1949)
Olga Cordes Linder (1904-1979)
Erna Clara Cordes Schmidt (1909-1996)
Lillian "Babe" Emma Cordes Goodlund (1914-2005)
Article about the death of John Cordes from the Fairmont Sentinel, June 1931:
Friends and relatives today ascribed the suicide of John Cordes Sr., to mental aberration over the death of his wife. The 71-year-old Fairmont citizen killed himself with a revolver on her grave in Lakeside cemetery at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. He had been unusually devoted to his life helpmate and had mourned unceasingly since her death, which occurred in November 1929.
Seated with his back to the tombstone at the head of the grave, Mr. Cordes fired a bullet from a .32 calibre revolver into his heart.
He left two letters; one to his children, asking them to take his body to the Frase & Beyer undertaking rooms. The other letter was to his pastor, Rev. E. J. Stech.
In a note to his children Mr. Cordes said he could not live any longer without his wife. "I think this way is better than St. Peter," he wrote, "and that's where I will go if this keeps on. I can't stand it any longer."
Two days ago, Mr. Cordes stopped at Frase & Beyer's, and shook hands with Mr. Beyer. "In a day or two you will get me," he said to Mr. Beyer.
"I didn't think much of it at the time," said Mr. Beyer. " I thought he was joking, although he was not given much to that."
Mr. Cordes was at the Milwaukee depot about the time of the arrival of the eastbound evening train. He asked Ernest McFarland, driver of the taxi line, if he would come over to the Northwestern depot after the Milwaukee train came in and take him to the cemetery. He told McFarland that if he got a passenger off the train he wouldn't need to bother about coming.
McFarland went to the Northwestern depot and picked him up after the other train left. They started toward the cemetery.
Mr. Cordes conversed freely. He said he knew Ernest's father. He told Ernest not to go by way of Fourth street, but to take Third street, as there was a property there he wanted to look at which he was contemplating purchasing. Ernest did as he was directed. John Cordes Jr., lives at 320 West Fourth Street.
They went on out to the cemetery and McFarland discharged his passenger a short distance from Mrs. Cordes' grave. Before starting back to town, Mr. Cordes told him to stop at his son John's home and tell him to bring out a fork and a shovel at 6 o'clock.
Ernest thought this was a peculiar message, but he complied. He stopped at John's home and delivered it. John said he had no appointment with his father, but decided to go out at once and see what was the matter. McFarland went on to town.
Upon his arrival at the cemetery, John was just in time to find his father berating his last. A bullet from the revolver had entered his heart. He had taken off his coat, folded it, and laid it on the ground near the gravestone. His hat and cane were beside him. He had opened his shirt and the muzzle of the gun was placed directly against the body.
The shot was heard by Harvey Hansgaard, caretaker at the cemetery, as he was eating supper. He paid little attention to it as it sounded like it came from the direction of the bridge. He said it was very nearly 5:30 o'clock when he heard the gun.
After he finished supper Hansgaard went out and saw the ambulance, Coroner Fred Beyer, Deputy Roehler and Chief of Police Plenge in the cemetery. Mr. Cordes had shot himself with a small pistol which could almost be concealed in a closed hand.
According to instructions in the note left by Mr. Cordes, the body was taken to the Frase & Beyer funeral parlors and prepared for burial. He gave the passage of scripture on which the funeral sermon should be based.
Mr. Cordes had has notes in two envelopes. He had placed these on the ground beside him, and put a spike through them, pinning them to the ground, to make sure they would not blow away.
Since the death of his wife a year ago last November, Mr. Cordes had been in failing health. He was greatly devoted to her, and spent much of his time brooding. Recently he had been meeting trains, and at times it was feared he would be caught by the locomotive.
Mr. Cordes made his home with a married son, and a daughter at 305 North Avenue. He had periods of extreme sadness and melancholy. He was fairly well to do financially and was a man of highest honor and integrity. He was a retired farmer. Four sons and five daughters survive him.
Funeral services will be held at Evangelical St. John's church at 2 p.m. tomorrow, conducted by E.J. Stech, pastor. Burial will be at Lakeside cemetery.
John H. Cordes Jr. (1891-1943)
Carl George Cordes (1893-1978)
Sophia Marie Cordes (Maroney) Miller (1895-1985)
Marie "Meta" Cordes Woodward (1896-1954)
Henry Herman Cordes (1899-1963)
George William Cordes (1901-1949)
Olga Cordes Linder (1904-1979)
Erna Clara Cordes Schmidt (1909-1996)
Lillian "Babe" Emma Cordes Goodlund (1914-2005)
Article about the death of John Cordes from the Fairmont Sentinel, June 1931:
Friends and relatives today ascribed the suicide of John Cordes Sr., to mental aberration over the death of his wife. The 71-year-old Fairmont citizen killed himself with a revolver on her grave in Lakeside cemetery at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. He had been unusually devoted to his life helpmate and had mourned unceasingly since her death, which occurred in November 1929.
Seated with his back to the tombstone at the head of the grave, Mr. Cordes fired a bullet from a .32 calibre revolver into his heart.
He left two letters; one to his children, asking them to take his body to the Frase & Beyer undertaking rooms. The other letter was to his pastor, Rev. E. J. Stech.
In a note to his children Mr. Cordes said he could not live any longer without his wife. "I think this way is better than St. Peter," he wrote, "and that's where I will go if this keeps on. I can't stand it any longer."
Two days ago, Mr. Cordes stopped at Frase & Beyer's, and shook hands with Mr. Beyer. "In a day or two you will get me," he said to Mr. Beyer.
"I didn't think much of it at the time," said Mr. Beyer. " I thought he was joking, although he was not given much to that."
Mr. Cordes was at the Milwaukee depot about the time of the arrival of the eastbound evening train. He asked Ernest McFarland, driver of the taxi line, if he would come over to the Northwestern depot after the Milwaukee train came in and take him to the cemetery. He told McFarland that if he got a passenger off the train he wouldn't need to bother about coming.
McFarland went to the Northwestern depot and picked him up after the other train left. They started toward the cemetery.
Mr. Cordes conversed freely. He said he knew Ernest's father. He told Ernest not to go by way of Fourth street, but to take Third street, as there was a property there he wanted to look at which he was contemplating purchasing. Ernest did as he was directed. John Cordes Jr., lives at 320 West Fourth Street.
They went on out to the cemetery and McFarland discharged his passenger a short distance from Mrs. Cordes' grave. Before starting back to town, Mr. Cordes told him to stop at his son John's home and tell him to bring out a fork and a shovel at 6 o'clock.
Ernest thought this was a peculiar message, but he complied. He stopped at John's home and delivered it. John said he had no appointment with his father, but decided to go out at once and see what was the matter. McFarland went on to town.
Upon his arrival at the cemetery, John was just in time to find his father berating his last. A bullet from the revolver had entered his heart. He had taken off his coat, folded it, and laid it on the ground near the gravestone. His hat and cane were beside him. He had opened his shirt and the muzzle of the gun was placed directly against the body.
The shot was heard by Harvey Hansgaard, caretaker at the cemetery, as he was eating supper. He paid little attention to it as it sounded like it came from the direction of the bridge. He said it was very nearly 5:30 o'clock when he heard the gun.
After he finished supper Hansgaard went out and saw the ambulance, Coroner Fred Beyer, Deputy Roehler and Chief of Police Plenge in the cemetery. Mr. Cordes had shot himself with a small pistol which could almost be concealed in a closed hand.
According to instructions in the note left by Mr. Cordes, the body was taken to the Frase & Beyer funeral parlors and prepared for burial. He gave the passage of scripture on which the funeral sermon should be based.
Mr. Cordes had has notes in two envelopes. He had placed these on the ground beside him, and put a spike through them, pinning them to the ground, to make sure they would not blow away.
Since the death of his wife a year ago last November, Mr. Cordes had been in failing health. He was greatly devoted to her, and spent much of his time brooding. Recently he had been meeting trains, and at times it was feared he would be caught by the locomotive.
Mr. Cordes made his home with a married son, and a daughter at 305 North Avenue. He had periods of extreme sadness and melancholy. He was fairly well to do financially and was a man of highest honor and integrity. He was a retired farmer. Four sons and five daughters survive him.
Funeral services will be held at Evangelical St. John's church at 2 p.m. tomorrow, conducted by E.J. Stech, pastor. Burial will be at Lakeside cemetery.
Children:
John H. Cordes Jr. (1891-1943)
Carl George Cordes (1893-1978)
Sophia Marie Cordes (Maroney) Miller (1895-1985)
Marie "Meta" Cordes Woodward (1896-1954)
Henry Herman Cordes (1899-1963)
George William Cordes (1901-1949)
Olga Cordes Linder (1904-1979)
Erna Clara Cordes Schmidt (1909-1996)
Lillian "Babe" Emma Cordes Goodlund (1914-2005)
Article about the death of John Cordes from the Fairmont Sentinel, June 1931:
Friends and relatives today ascribed the suicide of John Cordes Sr., to mental aberration over the death of his wife. The 71-year-old Fairmont citizen killed himself with a revolver on her grave in Lakeside cemetery at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. He had been unusually devoted to his life helpmate and had mourned unceasingly since her death, which occurred in November 1929.
Seated with his back to the tombstone at the head of the grave, Mr. Cordes fired a bullet from a .32 calibre revolver into his heart.
He left two letters; one to his children, asking them to take his body to the Frase & Beyer undertaking rooms. The other letter was to his pastor, Rev. E. J. Stech.
In a note to his children Mr. Cordes said he could not live any longer without his wife. "I think this way is better than St. Peter," he wrote, "and that's where I will go if this keeps on. I can't stand it any longer."
Two days ago, Mr. Cordes stopped at Frase & Beyer's, and shook hands with Mr. Beyer. "In a day or two you will get me," he said to Mr. Beyer.
"I didn't think much of it at the time," said Mr. Beyer. " I thought he was joking, although he was not given much to that."
Mr. Cordes was at the Milwaukee depot about the time of the arrival of the eastbound evening train. He asked Ernest McFarland, driver of the taxi line, if he would come over to the Northwestern depot after the Milwaukee train came in and take him to the cemetery. He told McFarland that if he got a passenger off the train he wouldn't need to bother about coming.
McFarland went to the Northwestern depot and picked him up after the other train left. They started toward the cemetery.
Mr. Cordes conversed freely. He said he knew Ernest's father. He told Ernest not to go by way of Fourth street, but to take Third street, as there was a property there he wanted to look at which he was contemplating purchasing. Ernest did as he was directed. John Cordes Jr., lives at 320 West Fourth Street.
They went on out to the cemetery and McFarland discharged his passenger a short distance from Mrs. Cordes' grave. Before starting back to town, Mr. Cordes told him to stop at his son John's home and tell him to bring out a fork and a shovel at 6 o'clock.
Ernest thought this was a peculiar message, but he complied. He stopped at John's home and delivered it. John said he had no appointment with his father, but decided to go out at once and see what was the matter. McFarland went on to town.
Upon his arrival at the cemetery, John was just in time to find his father berating his last. A bullet from the revolver had entered his heart. He had taken off his coat, folded it, and laid it on the ground near the gravestone. His hat and cane were beside him. He had opened his shirt and the muzzle of the gun was placed directly against the body.
The shot was heard by Harvey Hansgaard, caretaker at the cemetery, as he was eating supper. He paid little attention to it as it sounded like it came from the direction of the bridge. He said it was very nearly 5:30 o'clock when he heard the gun.
After he finished supper Hansgaard went out and saw the ambulance, Coroner Fred Beyer, Deputy Roehler and Chief of Police Plenge in the cemetery. Mr. Cordes had shot himself with a small pistol which could almost be concealed in a closed hand.
According to instructions in the note left by Mr. Cordes, the body was taken to the Frase & Beyer funeral parlors and prepared for burial. He gave the passage of scripture on which the funeral sermon should be based.
Mr. Cordes had has notes in two envelopes. He had placed these on the ground beside him, and put a spike through them, pinning them to the ground, to make sure they would not blow away.
Since the death of his wife a year ago last November, Mr. Cordes had been in failing health. He was greatly devoted to her, and spent much of his time brooding. Recently he had been meeting trains, and at times it was feared he would be caught by the locomotive.
Mr. Cordes made his home with a married son, and a daughter at 305 North Avenue. He had periods of extreme sadness and melancholy. He was fairly well to do financially and was a man of highest honor and integrity. He was a retired farmer. Four sons and five daughters survive him.
Funeral services will be held at Evangelical St. John's church at 2 p.m. tomorrow, conducted by E.J. Stech, pastor. Burial will be at Lakeside cemetery.
John H. Cordes Jr. (1891-1943)
Carl George Cordes (1893-1978)
Sophia Marie Cordes (Maroney) Miller (1895-1985)
Marie "Meta" Cordes Woodward (1896-1954)
Henry Herman Cordes (1899-1963)
George William Cordes (1901-1949)
Olga Cordes Linder (1904-1979)
Erna Clara Cordes Schmidt (1909-1996)
Lillian "Babe" Emma Cordes Goodlund (1914-2005)
Article about the death of John Cordes from the Fairmont Sentinel, June 1931:
Friends and relatives today ascribed the suicide of John Cordes Sr., to mental aberration over the death of his wife. The 71-year-old Fairmont citizen killed himself with a revolver on her grave in Lakeside cemetery at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. He had been unusually devoted to his life helpmate and had mourned unceasingly since her death, which occurred in November 1929.
Seated with his back to the tombstone at the head of the grave, Mr. Cordes fired a bullet from a .32 calibre revolver into his heart.
He left two letters; one to his children, asking them to take his body to the Frase & Beyer undertaking rooms. The other letter was to his pastor, Rev. E. J. Stech.
In a note to his children Mr. Cordes said he could not live any longer without his wife. "I think this way is better than St. Peter," he wrote, "and that's where I will go if this keeps on. I can't stand it any longer."
Two days ago, Mr. Cordes stopped at Frase & Beyer's, and shook hands with Mr. Beyer. "In a day or two you will get me," he said to Mr. Beyer.
"I didn't think much of it at the time," said Mr. Beyer. " I thought he was joking, although he was not given much to that."
Mr. Cordes was at the Milwaukee depot about the time of the arrival of the eastbound evening train. He asked Ernest McFarland, driver of the taxi line, if he would come over to the Northwestern depot after the Milwaukee train came in and take him to the cemetery. He told McFarland that if he got a passenger off the train he wouldn't need to bother about coming.
McFarland went to the Northwestern depot and picked him up after the other train left. They started toward the cemetery.
Mr. Cordes conversed freely. He said he knew Ernest's father. He told Ernest not to go by way of Fourth street, but to take Third street, as there was a property there he wanted to look at which he was contemplating purchasing. Ernest did as he was directed. John Cordes Jr., lives at 320 West Fourth Street.
They went on out to the cemetery and McFarland discharged his passenger a short distance from Mrs. Cordes' grave. Before starting back to town, Mr. Cordes told him to stop at his son John's home and tell him to bring out a fork and a shovel at 6 o'clock.
Ernest thought this was a peculiar message, but he complied. He stopped at John's home and delivered it. John said he had no appointment with his father, but decided to go out at once and see what was the matter. McFarland went on to town.
Upon his arrival at the cemetery, John was just in time to find his father berating his last. A bullet from the revolver had entered his heart. He had taken off his coat, folded it, and laid it on the ground near the gravestone. His hat and cane were beside him. He had opened his shirt and the muzzle of the gun was placed directly against the body.
The shot was heard by Harvey Hansgaard, caretaker at the cemetery, as he was eating supper. He paid little attention to it as it sounded like it came from the direction of the bridge. He said it was very nearly 5:30 o'clock when he heard the gun.
After he finished supper Hansgaard went out and saw the ambulance, Coroner Fred Beyer, Deputy Roehler and Chief of Police Plenge in the cemetery. Mr. Cordes had shot himself with a small pistol which could almost be concealed in a closed hand.
According to instructions in the note left by Mr. Cordes, the body was taken to the Frase & Beyer funeral parlors and prepared for burial. He gave the passage of scripture on which the funeral sermon should be based.
Mr. Cordes had has notes in two envelopes. He had placed these on the ground beside him, and put a spike through them, pinning them to the ground, to make sure they would not blow away.
Since the death of his wife a year ago last November, Mr. Cordes had been in failing health. He was greatly devoted to her, and spent much of his time brooding. Recently he had been meeting trains, and at times it was feared he would be caught by the locomotive.
Mr. Cordes made his home with a married son, and a daughter at 305 North Avenue. He had periods of extreme sadness and melancholy. He was fairly well to do financially and was a man of highest honor and integrity. He was a retired farmer. Four sons and five daughters survive him.
Funeral services will be held at Evangelical St. John's church at 2 p.m. tomorrow, conducted by E.J. Stech, pastor. Burial will be at Lakeside cemetery.
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