The son of Caroline Bengelsdorf and Georg Doernbrok, William was born in Wrechen, Mechlenberg-Strelitz, Germany and came to the U.S. in 1872. He met Minnie Possehl at St. Michael's Evanglical Lutheran Church in Marshallville, Ohio and they married on May 16, 1878. Moving to Akron, they produced nine children, with six surviving to adulthood. William worked as a laborer at the American Cereal Company, the predecessor to the Quaker Oats Company.
At nine o'clock in the evening on May 17, 1895, William died of an overdose of Rough on Rats. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, he borrowed money from a co-worker that afternoon to purchase the poison. At 5PM William entered a local saloon, "where he ordered a glass of beer. When he got this he drew a small package from his pocket, the contents of which he emptied into the beer. After conversing pleasantly and unassumingly with a number of men from the saloon, he left for home."
"He arrived home and at once complained of being ill. Dr. Adams was called...and did not suspect anything like poisoning. After prescribing medicine he left and thought that Dornbrack would be right soon. Shortly...the man grew worse...and died."
"Owing to the pleasant disposition and character of the man no on suspected anything wrong. As soon as the death was announced...the powder in the saloon was recalled. The beer glass out of which the man drank...still contained enough poison to kill half a dozen men".
It was later determined that William committed suicide while temporaily insane over business matters. He always enjoyed good health and a happy home life. William was highly respected in the German community and his death much regretted by all.
At nine o'clock in the evening on May 17, 1895, William died of an overdose of Rough on Rats. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, he borrowed money from a co-worker that afternoon to purchase the poison. At 5PM William entered a local saloon, "where he ordered a glass of beer. When he got this he drew a small package from his pocket, the contents of which he emptied into the beer. After conversing pleasantly and unassumingly with a number of men from the saloon, he left for home."
"He arrived home and at once complained of being ill. Dr. Adams was called...and did not suspect anything like poisoning. After prescribing medicine he left and thought that Dornbrack would be right soon. Shortly...the man grew worse...and died."
"Owing to the pleasant disposition and character of the man no on suspected anything wrong. As soon as the death was announced...the powder in the saloon was recalled. The beer glass out of which the man drank...still contained enough poison to kill half a dozen men".
It was later determined that William committed suicide while temporaily insane over business matters. He always enjoyed good health and a happy home life. William was highly respected in the German community and his death much regretted by all.
The son of Caroline Bengelsdorf and Georg Doernbrok, William was born in Wrechen, Mechlenberg-Strelitz, Germany and came to the U.S. in 1872. He met Minnie Possehl at St. Michael's Evanglical Lutheran Church in Marshallville, Ohio and they married on May 16, 1878. Moving to Akron, they produced nine children, with six surviving to adulthood. William worked as a laborer at the American Cereal Company, the predecessor to the Quaker Oats Company.
At nine o'clock in the evening on May 17, 1895, William died of an overdose of Rough on Rats. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, he borrowed money from a co-worker that afternoon to purchase the poison. At 5PM William entered a local saloon, "where he ordered a glass of beer. When he got this he drew a small package from his pocket, the contents of which he emptied into the beer. After conversing pleasantly and unassumingly with a number of men from the saloon, he left for home."
"He arrived home and at once complained of being ill. Dr. Adams was called...and did not suspect anything like poisoning. After prescribing medicine he left and thought that Dornbrack would be right soon. Shortly...the man grew worse...and died."
"Owing to the pleasant disposition and character of the man no on suspected anything wrong. As soon as the death was announced...the powder in the saloon was recalled. The beer glass out of which the man drank...still contained enough poison to kill half a dozen men".
It was later determined that William committed suicide while temporaily insane over business matters. He always enjoyed good health and a happy home life. William was highly respected in the German community and his death much regretted by all.
At nine o'clock in the evening on May 17, 1895, William died of an overdose of Rough on Rats. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, he borrowed money from a co-worker that afternoon to purchase the poison. At 5PM William entered a local saloon, "where he ordered a glass of beer. When he got this he drew a small package from his pocket, the contents of which he emptied into the beer. After conversing pleasantly and unassumingly with a number of men from the saloon, he left for home."
"He arrived home and at once complained of being ill. Dr. Adams was called...and did not suspect anything like poisoning. After prescribing medicine he left and thought that Dornbrack would be right soon. Shortly...the man grew worse...and died."
"Owing to the pleasant disposition and character of the man no on suspected anything wrong. As soon as the death was announced...the powder in the saloon was recalled. The beer glass out of which the man drank...still contained enough poison to kill half a dozen men".
It was later determined that William committed suicide while temporaily insane over business matters. He always enjoyed good health and a happy home life. William was highly respected in the German community and his death much regretted by all.
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