Monticello Herald, Thursday, August 1, 1907
DEATH OF FRANK COWGER
Found Dead With Gas Turned On At Home in Chicago
Friends and Relatives Do Not Believe in Either the Accident or Suicide Theory and Will Call for Investigation
The announcement of Frank L. Cowger's death which reached here from Chicago Wednesday of last week was like a bolt of lightening from a clear sky to his friends and relatives in this county.
He had been very successful in the insurance business at Chicago and was known to have been alive and well up to Tuesday. On Wednesday morning he was found dead at his home on 43rd street. The windows and doors of his room were closed, and he was found lying across his bed with a partly burned match in his fingers. The coroner pronounced it a case of accidental death by asphyxiation. Others think it was suicide, and still others think there was foul play. Among these are some of Frank's relatives here, and a further investigation is probable.
Mr. Cowger's remains were brought here Friday afternoon and after being on view at the home of his brother Dr. S. R. Cowger until Sunday afternoon, were taken to Battle Ground for burial.
Mr. Cowger was 49 years old and had been twice married. His first wife died several years ago, and his second marriage was of recent date. He was a graduate of the Northern Indiana Normal School. He had also attended the Indiana State Normal and stood high in his profession. After teaching several years in this county he became the first principal of the Battle Ground High School and afterwards taught at LaFayette. On going to Chicago he at once took high rank as an insurance solicitor and soon rose to the office of Assistant Superintendent of the Prudential there. Preferring a lower rank in order to get more outdoor work, he afterward took third place in the agency and was succeeded by Mr. F. E. Coultas, who was his most intimate friend in the city and who was with him at his home until midnight the night of his death.
His second marriage had proved unfortunate and a separation was about to take place. Frank had sent his children to Battle Ground the day of his death, and arrangements were in progress by which the company was to transfer him to LaFayette while still retaining his services. This was the subject of the conference between him and Mr. Coultas the night of his death, and they had made an appointment to meet and close the matter up at the office at 1 o'clock the next day. His wife had left home in the morning but returned during the evening, took some wearing apparel and went away again. She was accompanied by a policeman.
Mr. Coultas, who was here Sunday to bring a floral offering and accompany the remains to Battle Ground, says he was greatly surprised and shocked to hear of Frank's death. When he left him on the fatal night it was with the full expectation of meeting him the next day. At their conference he talked freely of his plans for the future, and his mood showed no indication of suicidal intent. He was held in the highest esteem by all his associates in the company.
A funeral service was held at the Christian church here at 10:45 Sunday morning, and the remains were taken to Battle Ground by way of Reynolds.
DEATH OF FRANK COWGER
Found Dead With Gas Turned On At Home in Chicago
Friends and Relatives Do Not Believe in Either the Accident or Suicide Theory and Will Call for Investigation
The announcement of Frank L. Cowger's death which reached here from Chicago Wednesday of last week was like a bolt of lightening from a clear sky to his friends and relatives in this county.
He had been very successful in the insurance business at Chicago and was known to have been alive and well up to Tuesday. On Wednesday morning he was found dead at his home on 43rd street. The windows and doors of his room were closed, and he was found lying across his bed with a partly burned match in his fingers. The coroner pronounced it a case of accidental death by asphyxiation. Others think it was suicide, and still others think there was foul play. Among these are some of Frank's relatives here, and a further investigation is probable.
Mr. Cowger's remains were brought here Friday afternoon and after being on view at the home of his brother Dr. S. R. Cowger until Sunday afternoon, were taken to Battle Ground for burial.
Mr. Cowger was 49 years old and had been twice married. His first wife died several years ago, and his second marriage was of recent date. He was a graduate of the Northern Indiana Normal School. He had also attended the Indiana State Normal and stood high in his profession. After teaching several years in this county he became the first principal of the Battle Ground High School and afterwards taught at LaFayette. On going to Chicago he at once took high rank as an insurance solicitor and soon rose to the office of Assistant Superintendent of the Prudential there. Preferring a lower rank in order to get more outdoor work, he afterward took third place in the agency and was succeeded by Mr. F. E. Coultas, who was his most intimate friend in the city and who was with him at his home until midnight the night of his death.
His second marriage had proved unfortunate and a separation was about to take place. Frank had sent his children to Battle Ground the day of his death, and arrangements were in progress by which the company was to transfer him to LaFayette while still retaining his services. This was the subject of the conference between him and Mr. Coultas the night of his death, and they had made an appointment to meet and close the matter up at the office at 1 o'clock the next day. His wife had left home in the morning but returned during the evening, took some wearing apparel and went away again. She was accompanied by a policeman.
Mr. Coultas, who was here Sunday to bring a floral offering and accompany the remains to Battle Ground, says he was greatly surprised and shocked to hear of Frank's death. When he left him on the fatal night it was with the full expectation of meeting him the next day. At their conference he talked freely of his plans for the future, and his mood showed no indication of suicidal intent. He was held in the highest esteem by all his associates in the company.
A funeral service was held at the Christian church here at 10:45 Sunday morning, and the remains were taken to Battle Ground by way of Reynolds.
Monticello Herald, Thursday, August 1, 1907
DEATH OF FRANK COWGER
Found Dead With Gas Turned On At Home in Chicago
Friends and Relatives Do Not Believe in Either the Accident or Suicide Theory and Will Call for Investigation
The announcement of Frank L. Cowger's death which reached here from Chicago Wednesday of last week was like a bolt of lightening from a clear sky to his friends and relatives in this county.
He had been very successful in the insurance business at Chicago and was known to have been alive and well up to Tuesday. On Wednesday morning he was found dead at his home on 43rd street. The windows and doors of his room were closed, and he was found lying across his bed with a partly burned match in his fingers. The coroner pronounced it a case of accidental death by asphyxiation. Others think it was suicide, and still others think there was foul play. Among these are some of Frank's relatives here, and a further investigation is probable.
Mr. Cowger's remains were brought here Friday afternoon and after being on view at the home of his brother Dr. S. R. Cowger until Sunday afternoon, were taken to Battle Ground for burial.
Mr. Cowger was 49 years old and had been twice married. His first wife died several years ago, and his second marriage was of recent date. He was a graduate of the Northern Indiana Normal School. He had also attended the Indiana State Normal and stood high in his profession. After teaching several years in this county he became the first principal of the Battle Ground High School and afterwards taught at LaFayette. On going to Chicago he at once took high rank as an insurance solicitor and soon rose to the office of Assistant Superintendent of the Prudential there. Preferring a lower rank in order to get more outdoor work, he afterward took third place in the agency and was succeeded by Mr. F. E. Coultas, who was his most intimate friend in the city and who was with him at his home until midnight the night of his death.
His second marriage had proved unfortunate and a separation was about to take place. Frank had sent his children to Battle Ground the day of his death, and arrangements were in progress by which the company was to transfer him to LaFayette while still retaining his services. This was the subject of the conference between him and Mr. Coultas the night of his death, and they had made an appointment to meet and close the matter up at the office at 1 o'clock the next day. His wife had left home in the morning but returned during the evening, took some wearing apparel and went away again. She was accompanied by a policeman.
Mr. Coultas, who was here Sunday to bring a floral offering and accompany the remains to Battle Ground, says he was greatly surprised and shocked to hear of Frank's death. When he left him on the fatal night it was with the full expectation of meeting him the next day. At their conference he talked freely of his plans for the future, and his mood showed no indication of suicidal intent. He was held in the highest esteem by all his associates in the company.
A funeral service was held at the Christian church here at 10:45 Sunday morning, and the remains were taken to Battle Ground by way of Reynolds.
DEATH OF FRANK COWGER
Found Dead With Gas Turned On At Home in Chicago
Friends and Relatives Do Not Believe in Either the Accident or Suicide Theory and Will Call for Investigation
The announcement of Frank L. Cowger's death which reached here from Chicago Wednesday of last week was like a bolt of lightening from a clear sky to his friends and relatives in this county.
He had been very successful in the insurance business at Chicago and was known to have been alive and well up to Tuesday. On Wednesday morning he was found dead at his home on 43rd street. The windows and doors of his room were closed, and he was found lying across his bed with a partly burned match in his fingers. The coroner pronounced it a case of accidental death by asphyxiation. Others think it was suicide, and still others think there was foul play. Among these are some of Frank's relatives here, and a further investigation is probable.
Mr. Cowger's remains were brought here Friday afternoon and after being on view at the home of his brother Dr. S. R. Cowger until Sunday afternoon, were taken to Battle Ground for burial.
Mr. Cowger was 49 years old and had been twice married. His first wife died several years ago, and his second marriage was of recent date. He was a graduate of the Northern Indiana Normal School. He had also attended the Indiana State Normal and stood high in his profession. After teaching several years in this county he became the first principal of the Battle Ground High School and afterwards taught at LaFayette. On going to Chicago he at once took high rank as an insurance solicitor and soon rose to the office of Assistant Superintendent of the Prudential there. Preferring a lower rank in order to get more outdoor work, he afterward took third place in the agency and was succeeded by Mr. F. E. Coultas, who was his most intimate friend in the city and who was with him at his home until midnight the night of his death.
His second marriage had proved unfortunate and a separation was about to take place. Frank had sent his children to Battle Ground the day of his death, and arrangements were in progress by which the company was to transfer him to LaFayette while still retaining his services. This was the subject of the conference between him and Mr. Coultas the night of his death, and they had made an appointment to meet and close the matter up at the office at 1 o'clock the next day. His wife had left home in the morning but returned during the evening, took some wearing apparel and went away again. She was accompanied by a policeman.
Mr. Coultas, who was here Sunday to bring a floral offering and accompany the remains to Battle Ground, says he was greatly surprised and shocked to hear of Frank's death. When he left him on the fatal night it was with the full expectation of meeting him the next day. At their conference he talked freely of his plans for the future, and his mood showed no indication of suicidal intent. He was held in the highest esteem by all his associates in the company.
A funeral service was held at the Christian church here at 10:45 Sunday morning, and the remains were taken to Battle Ground by way of Reynolds.
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