Joseph Vilas was born in New York on March 31st, 1832. He came to Manitowoc in 1852. Joseph was a member of the Committee to obtain the first City library in 1868. He built a home in 1891-93 that was a family residence until his death, now known as the Rahr-West Art Museum. Mr. Vilas died January 6, 1905 from a self-inflicted gunshot following lingering illnesses.
**********
JOSEPH VILAS (d. 1905)
From Der Nord Westen, 07 Jan. 1905: (Saturday dateline)
This morning a rumor circulated in the city that Joseph Vilas had shot
himself, and later information proved the rumor to be true. Mr. Vilas
had been terribly afflicted for a long time with an illness that he
brought to an end with a revolver by his own hand. It appears that Mr.
Vilas took his life about 5 o'clock this morning and his body was found
about 7:00 lying in bed with a fatal gunshot wound to the right temple.
Mr. Vilas was one of the most prominent citizens of our city and county.
He was born in 1833 in Ogdenburg, New York, came to Manitowoc in 1853
and worked for many years as a merchant with Messrs. J.E. Platt and
John C. Barnes until entering the railroad business in the 70's. Later
he established a paper mill in Kaukauna which was destroyed by fire
several years ago, and 3 yrs. ago he established a vegetable canning
plant in Algoma. He is survived by one son who lives in Kewaunee. The
coroner's inquest was held by Justice of the Peace Markham, and the jury
returned a verdict that Joseph Vilas had ended his life by his own hand.
*********
From Der Nord Westen, 12 Jan. 1905:
The funeral of Joseph Vilas, whose passing we reported in our Sat. edition,
took place Mon. directed by the Free Masons, to which the deceased had
belonged for many years. There was a long funeral procession.
*********
[bur. 01-08-1905/cause: gun shot]
**********
JOSEPH VILAS (d. 1905)
From Der Nord Westen, 07 Jan. 1905: (Saturday dateline)
This morning a rumor circulated in the city that Joseph Vilas had shot
himself, and later information proved the rumor to be true. Mr. Vilas
had been terribly afflicted for a long time with an illness that he
brought to an end with a revolver by his own hand. It appears that Mr.
Vilas took his life about 5 o'clock this morning and his body was found
about 7:00 lying in bed with a fatal gunshot wound to the right temple.
Mr. Vilas was one of the most prominent citizens of our city and county.
He was born in 1833 in Ogdenburg, New York, came to Manitowoc in 1853
and worked for many years as a merchant with Messrs. J.E. Platt and
John C. Barnes until entering the railroad business in the 70's. Later
he established a paper mill in Kaukauna which was destroyed by fire
several years ago, and 3 yrs. ago he established a vegetable canning
plant in Algoma. He is survived by one son who lives in Kewaunee. The
coroner's inquest was held by Justice of the Peace Markham, and the jury
returned a verdict that Joseph Vilas had ended his life by his own hand.
*********
From Der Nord Westen, 12 Jan. 1905:
The funeral of Joseph Vilas, whose passing we reported in our Sat. edition,
took place Mon. directed by the Free Masons, to which the deceased had
belonged for many years. There was a long funeral procession.
*********
[bur. 01-08-1905/cause: gun shot]
Joseph Vilas was born in New York on March 31st, 1832. He came to Manitowoc in 1852. Joseph was a member of the Committee to obtain the first City library in 1868. He built a home in 1891-93 that was a family residence until his death, now known as the Rahr-West Art Museum. Mr. Vilas died January 6, 1905 from a self-inflicted gunshot following lingering illnesses.
**********
JOSEPH VILAS (d. 1905)
From Der Nord Westen, 07 Jan. 1905: (Saturday dateline)
This morning a rumor circulated in the city that Joseph Vilas had shot
himself, and later information proved the rumor to be true. Mr. Vilas
had been terribly afflicted for a long time with an illness that he
brought to an end with a revolver by his own hand. It appears that Mr.
Vilas took his life about 5 o'clock this morning and his body was found
about 7:00 lying in bed with a fatal gunshot wound to the right temple.
Mr. Vilas was one of the most prominent citizens of our city and county.
He was born in 1833 in Ogdenburg, New York, came to Manitowoc in 1853
and worked for many years as a merchant with Messrs. J.E. Platt and
John C. Barnes until entering the railroad business in the 70's. Later
he established a paper mill in Kaukauna which was destroyed by fire
several years ago, and 3 yrs. ago he established a vegetable canning
plant in Algoma. He is survived by one son who lives in Kewaunee. The
coroner's inquest was held by Justice of the Peace Markham, and the jury
returned a verdict that Joseph Vilas had ended his life by his own hand.
*********
From Der Nord Westen, 12 Jan. 1905:
The funeral of Joseph Vilas, whose passing we reported in our Sat. edition,
took place Mon. directed by the Free Masons, to which the deceased had
belonged for many years. There was a long funeral procession.
*********
[bur. 01-08-1905/cause: gun shot]
**********
JOSEPH VILAS (d. 1905)
From Der Nord Westen, 07 Jan. 1905: (Saturday dateline)
This morning a rumor circulated in the city that Joseph Vilas had shot
himself, and later information proved the rumor to be true. Mr. Vilas
had been terribly afflicted for a long time with an illness that he
brought to an end with a revolver by his own hand. It appears that Mr.
Vilas took his life about 5 o'clock this morning and his body was found
about 7:00 lying in bed with a fatal gunshot wound to the right temple.
Mr. Vilas was one of the most prominent citizens of our city and county.
He was born in 1833 in Ogdenburg, New York, came to Manitowoc in 1853
and worked for many years as a merchant with Messrs. J.E. Platt and
John C. Barnes until entering the railroad business in the 70's. Later
he established a paper mill in Kaukauna which was destroyed by fire
several years ago, and 3 yrs. ago he established a vegetable canning
plant in Algoma. He is survived by one son who lives in Kewaunee. The
coroner's inquest was held by Justice of the Peace Markham, and the jury
returned a verdict that Joseph Vilas had ended his life by his own hand.
*********
From Der Nord Westen, 12 Jan. 1905:
The funeral of Joseph Vilas, whose passing we reported in our Sat. edition,
took place Mon. directed by the Free Masons, to which the deceased had
belonged for many years. There was a long funeral procession.
*********
[bur. 01-08-1905/cause: gun shot]
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