This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: MargieRoopPearce Surnames: Meibers, Stephenson, Falk, Clark, Tonnelier, Droppleman, Voglewede Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties.adams/3199/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Decatur Daily Democrat, Adams Co, IN; Wednesday, 03 September 1924 CHAS. MEIBERS DIES IN LAKE AT ROME CITY Coroner Returns Verdict Of Accidental Drowning This Afternoon Found Last Night Body Found In Three Feet Of Water; Fell From His Boat Charles L. Meibers, age 59, well known resident of Decatur, died either from heart failure or drowning while endeavoring to start the motor attached to the rear of his row boat in his boat-house on Sylvan Lake at Rome City yesterday afternoon. His body was fund on the bottom of the lake, in water about three and one-half feet deep, about 7:15 o'clock last night. It is thought that the body had been in the water nearly five hours. Dr. L. F. Frurip, of Kendallville, coroner of Noble county, who was called to make an investigation, returned a verdict of accidental drowning this afternoon. Dr. Frurip stated that it is probably that death was due to heart failure or apoplexy, but since no autopsy was held he was inclined to return a verdict of accidental drowning. He also state that death might have been due to an electrical shock from the motor. Spent Summer At Lake Mr. and Mrs. Meibers had been spending the summer at their cottage at Rome City, having gone there on June 15. They were intending to return to Decatur Sunday and Mr. Meibers was going to resume his work as motorman on the Decatur-Fort Wayne interurban line next Monday. Their son, Robert Meibers, and Fred Schurger drove to Rome City yesterday afternoon, intending to remain there the rest of the week and bring Mr. and Mrs. Meibers home Sunday. When Robert and Mr. Schurger arrived at the lake about 4 o'clock. Mrs. Meibers stated that Mr. Meibers had left the cottage about 1 o'clock and had not returned yet. She was becoming uneasy about him and Robert proceeded to make a search for him. Robert took the boat from the boat house and rode about the lake for awhile, looking in other boats, in hopes of seeing his father. Being unsuccessful in finding him Robert returned to the boat house and put the boat away, thinking perhaps his father might be fishing. Saw Body Under Water At supper time, Mr. Meibers had failed to return, and by that time, Mrs. Meibers and Robert were becoming alarmed, as Mr. Meibers was not accustomed to remain away so long. Another search was started, Mr. Meibers's brother, Michael, who lives at Rome City, and another man, Willis Weber, got into a boat with a spot light and searched along the shore of the lake. The body was sighted beneath the water in the boat house. The body was removed from the water and the coroner called. Mr. Meibers' watch had stopped at a few minutes after 2 o'clock, indicating that Mr. Meibers had fallen into the water about that time. There were bruises on Mr. Meibers' cheek and nose, where he had struck the handle on the motor which is used in starting the motor. The handle was broken. Boy Saw Him Fall The general supposition is that Mr. Meibers was working with the motor in an attempt to get it started, when he was stricken with apoplexy or some form of heart trouble and fell forward, against the motor and into the lake. The coroner stated that there was no water in the lungs, but that that fact did not necessarily mean that death was not due to drowning. Dr. Frurip stated that he had heard that a small boy saw Mr. Meibers fall into the lake, but so far he had been unable to find him. The body was brought back to this city last night, arriving here about 5 o'clock this morning. Mrs. Meibers was nearly overcome by the shock when the body was found and restoratives were necessary. Charles L. Meibers was a son of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Meibers and was born in Adams county, June 20, 1865. He lived his entire life in this county. Mr. Meibers conducted a city transfer line here for many years and hauled the mail between the post office and railway stations. When the Decatur-Fort Wayne interurban line was built about fourteen years ago. Mr. Meibers became a motorman and has been operating one of the traction cars on that line ever since. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Elks lodges and of the St. Marys Catholic church. Mr. Meibers was married to Mae Stephenson about thirty-four years ago. Mr. Meibers is survived by his wife; two children, Robert at home, and Mrs. Daniel Falk, of Peru; two grandchildren, Charles John and Constance Mary Falk; three sisters, Mrs. C. S. Clark, Mrs. J. J. Tonnelier and Mrs. Anna Droppleman, all of Decatur; two brothers, Michael, of Rome City, and John W., of Decatur; and one half-sister, Mrs. Henry Voglewede, of Decatur. Funeral services will be held from the St. Marys Catholic Church, at 0 o'clock Friday morning, the Rev. J. A. Seimetz, rector, officiating. Burial will be made in the St. Joseph Catholic cemetery. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.