George Lovelet

LOVELET, VAN SANT

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 1/17/2025 at 15:31:54

The Wapello Republican, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, January 11, 1912
Page 1

George Lovelet, an employee of Shaver Bros. Cement works in Columbus Junction died shortly after midnight Saturday night of ptomaine poisoning forty minutes after eating a luncheon in a local restaurant. Lovelet was a boarder at the Van Sant hotel in that city. At 11:55 o'clock he went to the door of the landlady's apartments and called "Who's there?" asked Mrs. Ella Van Sant. "It's George," was the reply, " I am dying." Mrs. Van Sant's son opened the door just in time to catch Lovelet as he dropped to the floor. A physician was hastily summoned, but Lovelet passed away before medical aid could reach him, dying within fifteen minutes after he knocked at the landlady's door.

It is stated that shortly before returning to the hotel, Lovelet ate a lunch at a local restaurant and it is presumed that he contracted ptomaine poisoning from some article of canned goods which he ate then. Coroner Wagner, of Grandview was later informed of the circumstances surrounding the case, but after consultation with Columbus Junction officials by telephone, it was decided that no inquest was necessary. The funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock and interment was made at the Columbus City cemetery later in the afternoon. Rev. A. W. McBlaine conducted the services.

Lovelet came to Columbus Junction two years ago to accept a position in the cement works, coming from Washington, Iowa, his birthplace and lifelong home. He was 48 years of age at the time of his death and unmarried. His parents are dead. Three brothers, Albert, of Washington; Henry of Lone Tree, and Frank, of Rock Island, survive him.