THE REPUBLICAN

                                                               April 3, 1903

 

ALFRED POLL DEAD

Got Lost on the Marsh at Night and Died from Exposure and Heart Failure.

 

            Last Thursday afternoon Alfred Poll, who lives near White Lake with his mother, and William Sherman, who is a neighbor nearby, were in Weyauwega.  It was getting late when they started for home and when they got to the marsh they attempted to make a short cut to their premises by the winter road.  The team got into a mire hole and it was with difficulty they got them out.  Sherman, whose wife was sick, said he would hurry on and put out the team.  Mr. Poll said he would rest a few minutes and then go cross-lots to his home. The Weyauwega Chronicle of Wednesday tells of the occurrence as follows:

            “It appears that Poll got to the wire fence and tried to find his way home by it, as his hands were badly cut, and then he was caught and fell, and finally died of exposure.  Mrs. Sherman had been ill so her husband remained at home for a few days, thinking Poll had gone to town.  As the latter did not return by Monday the neighbors began to make inquiries, and he was found by Chas. Ritchie. An inquest was held Monday evening, conducted by Dr. Irvine of Royalton.  The jury found that he had died of exposure and cold.

            “His funeral was held here this forenoon, conducted by the Odd Fellows.  Mr. Poll was about 47 years of age.  He leaves a mother, sister and brothers.  For a few years past he conducted a celery farm near White Lake.”

            Mr. Poll at one time owned a livery and feed barn in Waupaca and was noted as one of the best guides to the trout streams in this section of the state.  After the divorce between himself and wife he bought some marsh lands near White Lake and was very enthusiastic over their fertility for celery and root crops.  He built a home and his mother, who is a widow of the late J. Poll, kept house for him.  Alf. was of a kindly nature in many ways, and it is very sad to his relatives that his life should have such a finality.

            The brothers, Frank and Andy, and sister, Hattie, were with the mother at the funeral.  The deceased leaves one daughter, Miss Jessie Paul, of this city.