Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1914 — COMMUNITY SHOCKED BY WOMAN’S DEATH [ARTICLE]

COMMUNITY SHOCKED BY WOMAN’S DEATH

Mrs. Earl Duvall Victim of Poisoning Which Attacked System Following Operation. Mrs. C. Earl Duvall, wife of the well known clothing merchant, died at 4 o’clock this Wedensday morning, at her home on Van Rensselaer street. No death that has occurred in recent years has so shocked the community and caused such general sorrow among all the friends of the family. Mrs. Duvall was a young woman, being only 34 years of age, and had been apparently in the most robust health. A little more than a week ago she was suffering intensely from abdominal trouble and the famliy physician was called. He called Dr. Richter, a Chicago specialist, into consultation and the case was diagnosed as appendicitis. She was in a critical condition and an operation was performed Wednesday night of last week. Instead of a diseased appendix a strangulated ovarian cyst was found and the entire abdominal cavity was affected. It was believed that she would recover following ’the operation but her fever did not go down and on Saturday, the attending physician, Dr. A. R. Kresler, again called/Dr. Richter, who brought with him another specialist, Dr. Elliott. They realized the seriousness of her condition and tried to controvert the spread of poison, which had entered the blood. Dr. Richter was again called Monday evening. For a short time it seemed that she improved slightly, but Tuesday she was very low all day. Two nurses were employed on the case and everythnig was done to save her life, but she took suddenly worse just a few moments before her death and died before Dr. Kresler, who was called, could reach her bedside. About a week before .the operation Mrs. Duvall had suffered an attack of tonsilitis. A physician had not attended her at that time. It now seems probable that the abdominal condition was caused from the tonsilitis and that death was due to a general pyemia, which consists of the absorption into the blood of morbid matters from a wound or local infection. The immediate cause seems to have been a blood clot, death coming very suddenly. Mrk Duvall was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Biggs, and at this time her mother lies very near death suffering from a cancerous growth in the stomach. Death seems a matter of only a few days and possibly only a few hours. The family is certainly sorely afflicted.

Mrs. Duvall’s maiden name was Leona Myrtle Biggs. She was 34 years of age On Feb, 28th, and was married to C. Earl Duvall Oct. 16, 1901. Besides the husband and parents she leaves two children, Helen, aged 11, and Albert, aged 19 months. Also two'brothers, Harry, of Canon City, Colo., and Frank of this county; and three sisters, Mrs. G. B. Rollings, of Indianapolis, and Misses Nell and Mildred Biggs, of this city. As wife, mother and daughter she was a young woman of admirable qualities, while she was admired by all who knew her in this city and surrounding country and the chief topic of conversation albout Rensselaer today has been to discuss her untimely death and to express regret for her bereaved husband and children. The funeral arrangements have not been completed, but it is probable that the funeral will be held some time Friday.