HENRY PLOECKELMAN Chilton Times March 4, 1911

SUICIDE AT HAYTON -- A Veteran of the Civil War The Victim Of His Own Rash Act In Fit Of Dispondency

First hanging crape on the front door of his home as an announcement of his deed, Henry Ploeckelman hanged himself in his barn at Hayton Sunday forenoon about ten o'clock. Although he left no written explanation of his deed, it is supposed that mental trouble of which he has plainly been a victim was the cause. He was alone Saturday night and Sunday morning, his wife having gone to see her son, Adam Schwantz, at the Lime Kilns. Anton Miller of Hayton discovered the lifeless body. Passing the house, he saw the crape and stopped to see what it meant. The house was empty, but when he extended his search to the barn he made the startling discovery that threw the little village of Hayton into the greatest excitement.

It was known that Ploeckelman had exhibited evidences of mental disorder, but no one had any idea that he contemplated suicide. The last seen of him alive was at about nine o'clock Sunday morning by Peter Thiel who noticed him about the yard. The district attorney in place of the newly-elected coroner, who has failed to qualify, conducted an investigation of the tragedy, the result being the establishment beyond all doubt of the fact that Mr. Ploeckelman came to his death by his own hand.

During the seven or eight years of his residence at Hayton Mr. Ploeckelman won the friendship of his fellow townsmen. He was a man of kindly nature, always ready to do anything within his power for his friends. For several years he carried the mail to the Hayton post office, discharging the duties of his post with fidelity.
At the time of his death Mr. Ploeckelman was a little over 68 years old, he having been born at Basel, Germany, in 1842. In his youth he emigrated to America, settling on a farm near Branch, Manitowoc County, where his first wife died some years ago. He was married some eight years ago to Mrs. Schwantz of Hayton and removed to that village to live. Mr. Ploeckelman rendered his adopted country good service in the civil war. He was a member of Company E. 27th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and held membership in the Chilton GAR Post.

Surviving are his widow, three sons and seven daughters. Two of his children, August and Mrs. Herman Guenther reside here, one daughter's home is in Portland, Oregon, and the rest live in Manitowoc County.

Short funeral services were held at Hayton Wednesday morning by Rev. W. A. Arpke of Chilton and the remains were taken by train that day to the old home in Manitowoc County for interment. Numbers of friends from Hayton and vicinity accompanied the funeral party. The members of the Jos. B. Reynold's Post of Chilton attended the funeral in a body.
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