Posted on: Wood Co. Wi Obits Forum Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Wi/WoodObits/335 Surname: HILLS ------------------------- Dr L J HILLS Death announcement taken from the Marshfield News, Volume 4 Number 26, March 2, 1893, Page 1 Column 6 Last Saturday night, at his office in Blenker, Dr L J HILLS met his death as a result of taking an overdose of laundanum. He had been unwell for some time past from nervous and heart troubles and had gotten into the habit of taking chloral and morphia to lessen the pain and suffering occasioned by these afflictions. On Thursday of last week he was a visitor to this city, apparently feeling quite well. On Saturday he sent here for Dr LATHROP who responded and found the patient suffering from nervousness and a low heart. He prescribed for him and ordered those in attendance to take away all the chloral and morphia in the office as he deemed their use dangerous considering the condition of the heart of the patient. During the early part of the evening, according to those who were present, HILLS suffered considerable and got up to look for the chloral or morphia. As he could find neither he took a bottle of laundanum, poured out a wine glassful and drank it. He had been in the habit of taking large doses of these drugs and apparently this dose afforded him relief with no immediate evil result for he ate supper and after this felt much better. Shortly after this he fell into the sleep from which he never awakened. The suicide story which has been set afloat has no foundation in fact whatever. In the opinion of the attending physicians it was a case of the inadvertant taking of an overdose of laundanum, without suicidal intent. Dr HILLS came to this country some eleven or twelve years ago, locating at Auburndale where he worked up an exceptionally good practice, he being a physician of more than ordinary ability. Subsequently he removed his office to Blenker. He was kind hearted and genial, but like many before him fell a victim to that demon of intoxicating drink, and this within the past year caused him to take the Keeley and Ackerman cures, which apparently assisted him in conquering his appetite for strong drink. Recently he has been in very good spirits, attended strictly to his practice and spoke very hopefully of the future, confident that he had again become master of himself. He was 37 years of age, and had a wide circle of friends through this section who will deeply regret his untimely end. His remains will be laid at rest in the cemetery here this morning. Services will be held at the Presbyterian church at 10 o'clock, and the funeral is in charge of the Masonic lodge of this city. Joan M. Benner, Golden Rule Genealogy Member, Association of Professional Genealogists Rootsweb Sponsor Link: Golden Rule Genealogy URL: <http://www.rootsweb.com/~wiwood/resource/r-joanb.htm>