Charles Ringeisen

Charles Ringeisen, for many a years a citizen of Lyman Township, died at his home in Gilman by taking carbolic acid, Saturday. The only cause known was despondency. The funeral service was held in Gilman Monday at one o'clock p.m. after which the remains were laid to rest in the Lyman cemetery at Roberts. Obituary next week.

--Roberts Herald.  22 May 1918.

Charles Ringeisen

Suffering from a nervous breakdown about three years ago from which he never completely recovered, and from a nervous strain caused by the death of his wife just eleven days previous, Charles Ringeisen took his own life by drinking carbolic acid sometime Friday afternoon. His lifeless body was found in the hayloft of his  barn about 8 o'clock Friday evening.
Friday morning Mr. Ringeisen came up town as usual after his mail and from all appearances was in as good spirits as he had been for several days. Upon his return his daughter, Mrs. George Laenhardt, who was staying with him said she wished she had a postal card and she would write to George that they (herself and Mr. Ringeisen) would come to Champaign, where Mr. and Mrs. Laenhardt lived, that evening. Mr. Ringeisen said he would go and get a card. While he was away Mrs. Laenhardt phoned to Mrs. Duff Ringeisen to come down as she felt lonesome and she came down.
When Mr. Ringeisen returned he went into the basement a couple of times and later said he was going to the basement again. After he had been gone some time they went into the basement to look for him but could find nothing of him. This was about 9:30 in the morning. Feeling uneasy the ladies commenced phoning around among the relatives but no trace could be found of him.
About 8 o'clock in the evening Duff Ringeisen, with others wi?? helping in the search for him went to the barn. Finding it locked ??? was usually kept the door was ??? open and a thorough search ???. His lifeless body was found in the hay loft. He had entered the barn through the door which was locked on the ??? gone out of the door which  ?? kept locked on the inside and went up into the hay loft through a trap door which he closed after him. It is supposed he did this at the time he said he was going into the basement the third time.
When his body was found, their were no signs that suffered any after taking the acid as his hat was still on his head and his arms were by his side and it looked as though he was lying there asleep.
Later a small bottle containing a small quantity of the acid was found a short distance from the body covered over with a piece of paper.
A niece of Mr. Ringeisen has been staying with him since the death of Mrs. Ringeisen, and left for her home in Detroit, Mich. that afternoon, leaving Mrs. Laenhardt with him and the latter had planned to take him with her to her home in Champaign that evening for a few days' visit.  --Gilman Star

--Roberts Herald.  29 May 1918.
New print out needed.