Parkersburg, Iowa Eclipse and New Hartford Journal
November 15, 1900

Died from Asphyxiation

Escaping gas from a hard coal stove caused the death of Bolser Nicklaus
sometime during Tuesday night or early yesterday forenoon, and nearly
killed his wife.  The stove had been started during Tuesday, and when
Mr. and Mrs. Nicklaus retired that night, everything seemed to be running
as usual.  At about 11 o'clock yesterday, Mrs. O.C. Foughty went into
the house and saw that the old couple were lying on the bed apparently
sleeping, and she went out without disturbing them.  However, she
noticed a peculiar smell in the house, but at the time, thought nothing of
it.  Shortly afterwards Carl Nicklaus went to the house and also thought
they were yet sleeping and sat down to wait.  After a little time,
however, he went into the bedroom to awaken them and made the startling
discovery that his brother was dead and his wife was just breathing.  Aid
was summoned and all that medical skill could do was done, but Mr.
Nicklaus had been dead some time.  His wife will recover, although her life
was dispaired of for a long time.  Mr. Nicklaus' funeral will take
place tomorrow at ten o'clock from the Catholic church, the interment being
in the Catholic cemetery south of town.

Parkersburg, Iowa Eclipse
November 22, 1900

We desire in this manner to thank the neighbors and friends who so
kindly assisted us during our late bereavement.

Mrs. B. Nicklaus and children

Parkersburg, Iowa Eclipse
November 29, 1900

Obituary

Bolser Nicklaus, the subject of this sketch, was born in Germany, March
15, 1831, where he grew to manhood.  In 1856 he emigrated to America
and settled near Galena, Illinois.  He was married before leaving the old
country, in 1855, to Maggie Smith.  From Illinois, where he rented
land, he moved to Butler County in 1874, and bought a farm on section 10,
Monroe township.  At the time of his death, he was owner of one of the
largest farms in this section of country.  His wife survives him, and
also four of their children, Peter, George, Joseph, and Annie.


Parkersburg, Iowa Eclipse
December 6, 1900

Miss Anna Nicklaus was up from Waterloo Tuesday to attend the funeral
of Mrs. Bolser Nicklaus.

Parkersburg, Iowa Eclipse and New Hartford Journal
December 6, 1900

Mrs. Bolser Nicklaus Dead

Mrs. Bolser Nicklaus died at the family residence in this city Sunday
morning at eight o'clock after an illness lasting several days.  The
immediate cause of her death was due to the hard coal gas which she
inhaled at the time her husband was suffocated, combined with other causes.
The funeral was held on Tuesday morning at ten o'clock from the
Catholic church, mass being held by the pastor, Father Hetherington.  The
interment was in the Catholic cemetery.  The deceased was quite aged.

Butler County, Iowa Death record for years 1896-1904, page 143:

        Nicklaus, Elizabeth, Female, age 77 years, 1 month, occupation:
housekeeper, date of death Nov. 25, 1900, widow, born in Germany, died in
Parkersburg.  Cause of death: coal gas, buried in the Catholic cemetery.
(Notice the incorrect death date here -- she really died December 2,
1900, and her first name was really Marie)

        Nicklaus, Baltheser, Male, age 69 years, 4 months, 1 day, occupation:
farmer, date of death Nov. 14, 1900, married, born in Germany, died in
Parkersburg.  Cause of death:  coal gas, buried in the Catholic
cemetery.