Frederick W. Schultz

Notes:

Daily Pantagraph, Bloomington, Illinois, June 24, 1903:

"Gridley and vicinity was shocked yesterday afternoon to hear that Frederick Schultz, one of the best known and wealthiest farmers of the township had driven his wife and children from their home, at the muzzle of a shotgun, and then blew off the top of his own head.
The tragedy occurred at three o'clock yesterday afternoon. Mr. Schultz, who was 56 years old, had for some months, shown occasional signs of not being in his normal mental condition. He had not been violent but the family felt he required watching and that he was not always himself. His domestic relations had not been the pleasantest for some time and yesterday a quarrel took place between himself and his wife relative to one of the children.
Mr. Schultz told a 12-year-old boy to go out and hitch up the team. Mrs. Schultz said the team was not fit for a boy to handle and for him to go himself. A quarrel arouse during which Mr. Schultz threatened divorce and later became suddenly violent and securing a shotgun ordered his wife and children from the house. After vainly trying to calm the excited man, Mrs. Schultz took the children and ran across the fields to the home of Phillip Kiefer for help. The men of the house were all away and Mrs. Schultz telephoned into Gridley for help. 
The constables started at once for the Schultz farm. As they got out of the buggy at the door of the house they heard a shot and entering found Mr. Schultz sitting on a chair in the pantry with a smoking gun in his hands. He was dead when the men reached him.
The gun was a double-barreled muzzle loading weapon. Mr. Schultz had removed one of the barrels and pulled the trigger with his foot.
During a quarrel the day before Mr. Schultz said that he thought he was crazy and should be locked-up, but Mrs. Schultz did not take the words seriously. She was prostrated at the news of his death and was unable to return home.
Mr. Schultz had been a resident of Gridley for many years and owns a section and a half of land there or nearly 900 acres. He has seven children, all living at home. One sister survives, Mrs. Rinkenberger, of Gridley, and two brothers, William and August, of Chenoa, and one brother in Iowa. 
The funeral will take place probably today as the remains are not in condition to postpone the services."


Daily Pantagraph, Bloomington, Illinois, June 26, 1903:

Summary of Mr. Schultz' will:
Peter Rinkenberger was appointed administrator. Children were to share in property with the boys receiving one fifth more than the girls. Mrs. Schultz was to stay on home property and receive a share of crops but would lose that if she re-married although the will states "she didn't deserve anything". The preamble to the will in his own words:
"I will ent my Life
good by to the World
I can not live with that woman anymore for she wants to 
kontroll everything
I cannot obay any longer for I am near woar out
I can not stant to work any moar, so I shall ent my life
Faire well to all"

Buried:
Gridley Cemetery

Family/Spouse: Sarah Ringenberger. Sarah (daughter of Jean Ringenberger and Anna Garber) was born on 1 Nov 1857 in Tazewell Co., IL; died on 19 Aug 1944 in Gridley, McLean Co., IL; was buried in Gridley, McLean Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]