Gathen, Peter Issac

Birth

Peter Isaac Gathen was born on October 14, 1870 in Wisconsin, the son of Mathew Harvey Gathen (April 21, 1838-January 9, 1917) and Christina (Tina) Resue (August 7, 1851 – March 5, 1904)

Marriage & Children

He married at about 1881, Hattie L. Owens, who was born at about 1874 in Iowa. Their known children:

• Olive J. Gathen born in 1895 in WI
• Lillie L. Gathen born December 9, 1896 inWI
• Hazel M. Gathen born in WI
• Ethel Blanche Gathen born april 15, 1903 in WI
• Myrtle M. Gathen born in WI
• Mary M. Gathen born in Middleburgh, NY

Death

By 1940, he was widowed and living in Berne in the household of his daughter, Myrtle Schanz. He died 14 Mar 1955 in Long Beach, California.

Obituary

PETER GATHEN Funeral services for Peter Gathen, 84, retired Berne farmer, who died March 14 at General hospital, Long Beach, Calif., were held Staurday morning at St. Lucy's church, Altamont. Rev. Nicholas Fitzgerald officiated. Burial was in Rensselaerville. Mr Gathen resided with his eldest daughter, Mrs. Olive Remshardt of Long Beach. He is also survived by the following daughters, Mrs. E Ecklund, Mrs. A Lively, Mrs J. Bodenholfer, Mrs I. Schanz; and Mrs Har- Sanford, a brother, William O. Gathen, 14 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, a nephew and a niece. Altamont Enterprise - March 25, 1955

Additional Media

It is obvious that the following newspaper article does not pertain to the above subject, Peter Gathen, who lived in Wisconsin from birth to about 1905 when he came to New York.

We clip the following from the Albany Evening journal of the 9th inst:
"Coroner McCormick returned to the city this morning from Berne. He went out accompanied by Dr. M. J. Lewi yesterday afternoon to hold an inquest on the body of pretty but unfortunate Jennie Swart, whose body was found in a mill pond on the farm of Peter J. Wood yesterday morning.
The coroner and physician went to Altamont by rail and then taking a carriage rode 19 miles to the scene of the suicide. There a jury was impaneled and an inquest held. An examination showed that the girl was physically in normal condition. From the facts brought out by the coroner it would appear that the girl, though only 15, was remarkably well developed and very handsome. Her father is living, but is married to a second wife, by whom he has children.
It was not pleasant at home for Jennie, so she went to live with her mother's father, who is named Tubbs. Two years ago she became acquainted with a young farmer named Peter Gathen, and he had since "kept company" with her, the acquaitance lapsing into improper intimacy.
A short time ago Gathen received a farm by bequest of a relative. "Pete" said Jennie to him one day, "now that you are the owner of a nice farm I suppose you won't look at me." "I don't see why I should," was Peter's curt and careless answer, and it struck to Jennie's heart. Later Peter, accused Jennie of improper intimacy with John Shultes, another young farmer, with whom she was on speaking terms. She asserted her innocence of the charge, but it is said that Peter refused to believe her. Then in her despair she went to the mill pond and sought relief from her troubles in its waters.
At the inquest last night John Shultes insisted on being called as a witness and swore solemly that he had never committed any impropriety with Jennie. In the girl's pocket were a number of letters from Gathen. They were written in the most gushing bucolic style, with the representation of a tranfixed heart and blood drops, as an introduction, and concluded with "my heart is yours forever." At the conclusion of the inquest the jury returned a verdict of "suicide by drowning." ...Altamont Enterprise - October 12, 1889
California Death Index, 1940-1997 about Peter Isaac Gathen Name: Peter Isaac Gathen Social Security #: 553147345 Sex: Male Birth Date: 14 Oct 1870 Birthplace: Wisconsin Death Date: 14 Mar 1955 Death Place: Los Angeles Mother's Maiden Name: Reshew Father's Surname: Gathen Ancestry.com 1920 United States Federal Census about Peter Gatben Name: Peter Gatben [Peter Gathen] [Peter Galben] [Peter Galbert] Home in 1920: Minneapolis Ward 6, Hennepin, Minnesota Age: 47 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1873 Birthplace: Wisconsin Relation to Head of House: Self (Head) [Head] Spouse's Name: Harriet Gatben Father's Birth Place: New York Mother's Birth Place: Wisconsin Marital Status: Married Race: White Sex: Male Home Owned: Rent Able to Read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Peter Gatben 47 Harriet Gatben 44 Lillian Gatben 23 Ethel Gatben 16 Mertle Gatben 15 [13] Mary Gatben 9 Hanna Owen 78 Mirlte Hanson 22 Hazel Blystone 19 Ancestry.com </gallery> Sources

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