Friedrich "Frederick" Guggisberg

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92439778
• Name: Frederick Guggisberg
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-84457
• Residence: 1868, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Store Keeper
• Residence: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England

Notes:

We this week have the melancholy duty of chronicling the death of Frederick Guggisberg, which occurred on Tuesday last the 25th ult. at Toronto; where he has been, since the beginning of the year, under treatment of Dr. Hodder, for a disease of the law and facial membranes, which ultimately extended to the brain.

Coming to Galt at the age of twelve, he entered the store of Fraser & Warnock, as message and shop-boy and with plodding industry, perseverance, and application to business which characterized his after career; he gradually raised himself, step by step, to the position of one of the principal merchants in Galt. Identifying himself with its progress, he occupied the several positions, of Ensign in the Volunteers, Councilor for Ward 4, and Church Warden for Trinity Church, faithfully well. The cares of his rapidly extending business, of late, required all of his attention, and when compelled, in October last, by the disease to which he ultimately succumbed, to withdraw from the management of the "Waterloo House"; few thought that the old familiar features would never again be seen on Main street. After a lingering illness by his prolonged sufferings, gave way under a painful operation, on the morning of the 20th ult. On the Saturday following, he became unconscious and continued so to the time of his death, on Tuesday evening at half past six. His body was brought from Toronto on Friday morning, and was received at the station by members of Galt Lodge (of which he was a member), Alma Lodge and the Waterloo Chapter of Royal Arch Masons; together with a numerous concourse of friends. As the funeral cortege slowly wended its way to Trinity Church, crowds of spectators lined the way, and on Main street the shops were closed as a mark of respect. The service of the Church of England for the burial of the dead was read by the Very Rev. the Dean of Huron, assisted by the Rector, the Rev. I. Brock; and at its conclusion, P. M. Cranston read the Masonic service with the brethren assisting in the customary solemn ceremonies. Few there were who could not join with the brethren in saying "Let us cast around his foibles, whatever they may have been, the broad mantle of a mason's charity, and let us cheerfully render to his memory, the praise to which his virtues have entitled him.

The Dumfries Reformer, and Waterloo County Commercial and General Advertiser, 2nd April 1873

Friedrich married Dora Louise Willson 28 Oct 1868, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada. Dora was born 14 Jan 1848, Winona, Wentworth Co. , Ontario, Canada; died 3 Apr 1922, , England; was buried , Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth, , Hampshire, England. [Group Sheet]

1. Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg, Brigadier General was born 20 Jul 1869, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 21 Apr 1930, Bexhill-on-Sea, , Sussex, England; was buried , Bexhill Cemetery, Bexhill-on-Sea, , Sussex, England.
2. William Dayton Guggisberg was born 8 Mar 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 18 Jan 1872, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
3. Frederickson Donald MacKay Guggisberg was born 5 May 1873, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada; died 6 Sep 1891, Sabinal, Uvalde, Texas, USA; was buried , Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21643712
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-95881
• Residence: 1836, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Business: 1837, Dundas, West Flamborough Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; Red Lion Tavern

Notes:

Melancholy Suicide

It is our painful duty this week, to record a very sad occurrence that took place in the Gaol, in this town, by which an erring mortal hurried himself into an awful eternity, with his own hand. The unfortunate man, named Samuel Guggesberg, said to be respectably connected, and a resident of the township of Blenheim having. been arrested for debt of fifty dollars and committed to Gaol about three weeks ago, was discovered by the Gaoler, on Friday last, in the passage leading to his night room, laying on his back, in a pool of blood with his throat cut. An inquest was held on view of the body the same evening, Dr. Turquand Coroner, and the jury, failed to lead them to a definite conclusion, as to the cause which led to the perpetration of the deed The following is the evidence on the case: Mr. Cummings, Gaoler, sworn stated that he saw the deceased about 4 o'clock, and subsequently about 8 o'clock in the morning; apparently quite well; the deceased then told witness he wanted breakfast of bread and beef witness ordered the servant girl to get breakfast for the deceased, and then went down to the town on his return, nearly 12 o'clock went to see he deceased about some notes he had two days before, spoken of giving witness for his board when they have the means on entering they day-room he did not see deceased, but a saw the remains of his breakfast on the table, a German bible lying open, and his pipe beside it the boots he had on in the morning, were standing of at one side of the room witness went towards the night-room, and found him lying on his back, on the, floor of the passage, in the midst of blood with his throat cut, and immediately judged he had cut his throat with his own hand went and called his man, Charles Bush, to came in, as Guggesberg had cut his throat the man came and examined, as did also the Sheriff and Clerk of the Peace, a razor, all over blood, was found on the window sill, over where deceased lay. In answer to questions by jurors could not say he was crazy, Mr. Muma, in company with Mr. Ball the lawyer, call to see him yesterday after which he told witness, he was afraid Muma wanted to keep him Gaol he appeared very much afraid and said he had a great many enemies - he had been confined in Gaol about three weeks, but without looking at his book, could not tell exactly he complained being sick last week got medicine from the doctor for him he had the razor about a week debtors generally bring their own kit with them the razor belonged to the debtor's room he asked for a looking glass this morning to shave himself witness asked him if he slept last night, he replied, he did previous to Monday last, rest was broken gave him a glass of hot grog, with sixty drops of laudanum by the doctor's orders he had a vial of medicine besides, to be given him occasionally, until sleep would be produced, as was the case, on Monday night last, and has since rested well gave him no medicine these two days past, as sleep was produced gave him in all, since Monday 1st, two glasses of raw grain whiskey none since yesterday morning gave none with the doctor's order from his manner and the way he talked, witness thought that he was laboring under an indisposition of mind.

Charles Bush, Sworn, saw deceased lying dead in the manner described by Mr. Cummings was not acquainted with him only saw him once at the hole of the door did not know that he was crazy believes he cut his own throat no doubt about it.

Bridge Grace, Sworn went into the room where Guggesberg usually ate his victuals, this morning, with his breakfast Guggesberg was standing near the window he did not speak went out and saw him, through the hole in the door, going to eat his breakfast, which consisted of potatoes, meat, bread, butter, and two eggs and tea he did not appear sick, saw nothing unusual about him saw him again in the position he was found by Mr. Cummings believes he killed himself, has no doubt about it was in the habit of taking his meals to him. One evening, last week, he appeared not to speak plain, merely whispered and witness did not understand what he said - though he was not right thought he was delirious this morning he looked rather downcast he was not in the habit of speaking much made no noise in his room was always quiet.

The Coroner, who is the Gaol Surgeon, stated that when call upon to see Guggesberg, he found him feverish and depressed in mind; on Sunday last he was poorly, and from appearances he was apprehensive that the deceased was threatened with an attack of delirium tremens; understood from him that a month ago he had been on "a great spree;" in answer to inquiry, deceased told him, the Coroner, that he had had delirium tremens before; in consequence, advised for him and prescribed some medicine, and a portion of laudanum in a little grog, in order to produce sleep and prevent delirium coming on; the Gaoler on Monday, had learned that deceased had slept and was better; and that he, the Gaoler, had discontinued to give the medicine as the prisoner's rest was good, of which course he, the Coroner, approved. The Jury upon the above evidence unanimously agreed on the following verdict: -

"The the deceased Samuel Guggesberg, a prisoner for debt in the Gaol of the County of Oxford, came to his death by cutting his own throat with a razor, which laboring under an extreme depression of spirits"

Weekly Dispatch Newspaper, St. Thomas, Ontario 3 May 1853 [from the British American newspaper, Woodstock, Ontario]

________________________

"SUICIDE OF A GAOL DEBTOR. - A correspondent from Woodstock, mentions the melancholy fact that Mr. Samuel Guglesbury, late of the Township of Blenheim, committed suicide, by cutting his throat with a razor, in Woodstock Gaol, on the 22nd instant. He was confined there as a debtor, and his incarceration produced an attack of nervous illness, which no doubt was the precursor of that temporary insanity which prompted the commission of the rash act. The unfortunate man seemed to have acted with the utmost coolness, even after he had inflicted upon himself the fatal wound. The razor was found carefully enclosed in its scabbard, upon the window sill of the cell, where it must have been placed by the suicide, while the life blood was lowing from his body."

Daily British Whig (1850), 10 May 1853, p. 2

Samuel married Agatha Kraft 20 Dec 1836, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Agatha (daughter of Johann Franz Kraft and Anna Maria Haist) was born CA 1816, Baiersbronn, Freudenstadt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; died 30 Aug 1849, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Riverside Baptist Cemetery, Richwood, Blenheim Township, Oxford Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21643773
• Name: Agatha Guggisberg
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-95882
• Residence: 1836, Dundas, West Flamborough Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Agatha is reported to have been born in Baiersbronn, Württemberg, Germany

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• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-43312

Christian — Magdalena Moser. Magdalena was born CA 1770; died , Bern, Switzerland. [Group Sheet]

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/81983791
• Name: Magdalena Guggisberg
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-40135

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• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-156553
• Immigration: 1831, New York City, New York, USA.

Johann — Anna Maria Haist. Anna was born 1792, Baiersbronn, Freudenstadt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

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• Name: Anna Maria Kraft
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-167327