Louis Mailahn

Louis Mailahn was born in Pomerania and immigrated with his parents to the United States in about 1872. He settled as a farmer prior to his marriage to Gustie Schmidt in about 1880. Tragedy began to hit the family in 1905 with a long series of deaths to tibuerculosis. In 1912 his son, Willie Mailahn - who had previously suffered a head injury - began to act irradically and decided that the family would be better off if they took their own lives, rather than waiting for each to suffer a slow death to illness. On 2 Feb 1912, while three of the younger brothers were away, Willie took the life of his father, Lewis, followed by younger siblings Dora and John, before turning on himself.

Documentation

Newspapers

• 3 Feb 1912 - The Post-Crescent (Appleton, Wisconsin) - Kills Father, Sister, Brother and Himself
• 5 Feb 1912 - The Post-Crescent (Appleton, Wisconsin) - Father Has Presentiment
• 8 Feb 1912 - Appleton Weekly Post (Appleton, Wisconsin) - Fiend Kills Father, Sister, Brother and Ends Own Life
• 14 Feb 1912 - The Post-Crescent (Appleton, Wisconsin) - Brother Tells of the Tragedy

Census Records

• 1880 - Black Creek, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• 1900 - Black Creek, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• 1905 - Center, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• 1910 - Center, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA