Did Overwork Cause His Suicide?

My grandfather, Fritz Valentine “Fred” Newhouse, D.D.S., ended his life on February 13, 1923, one day short of his 43rd birthday. The newspaper article reporting his death by shotgun wound to the heart, had the following comment: “Overwork undoubtedly assisted in causing his breakdown.” [1] Overwork alone does not cause one to take one’s life; but it can be a contributing factor. Overwork is known to led to depression, sadness, and anxiety: all mental health issues. However, it may be that my grandfather suffered from undiagnosed schizophrenia.

Fritz Newhouse was born on February 14, 1880, in Pine Island, Minnesota. After graduating from high school—and thanks to a loan from his uncle William Paul Duerre (1869-1961) [also a dentist]—Fritz was able to attend and graduate from the Chicago  School of Dental Surgery, Chicago, Illinois.

 At the time of his death, Fritz was of medium build and height. He had gray eyes and dark hair. Aside from wearing glasses, his only other distinguishing trait was that he had become bald. According to his daughter, Elizabeth Esther Newhouse Harman (1916-2006), her father was deeply bothered about being bald. And, as the Mazzepa Tribune reported, “he suffered from the delusion that someone was after him.” Perhaps his baldness, of which he was very self-conscious, made him feel that people were looking at him and thus, “after him.”

My grandfather was a very successful dentist. He operated dental clinics in Mazeppa, Pine Island,  and Rochester, Minnesota. At the time of his death, he owned in today’s dollars, $1,560,264 in real estate—all mortgage free according to the the 1920 U.S. Federal Census: the home he and his family lived in, two rental homes, and a rental farm. And, by this time, the automobile had become popular enough to displace the horse and buggy; so, he would have probably been driving a late-model car such as the Ford Model-T Touring car.(pictured to the right)

Over the years we have become familiar with celebrities hiding their pain on the inside while smiling on the outside: Robin Williams, Anthony Bourdain, Naomi Judd, to name a few. Apparently, Fritz Newhouse was doing the same as this quote shows: “When in normal condition he was the person who kept the crowd smiling and was quick with jests and humorous stories.” [2] The Mazeppa Tribune went on to say that “For years he has suffered from periods of ill-health and despondency, and has had several attacks of nervous prostration.” While we understand the general meaning of such words as “ill-health” and “despondency,” what exactly is “nervous prostration”?

At the time of his death, nervous prostration was thought to be “a state of debility, in which nervous derangements predominate.” [3] What does this mean for my grandfather's life? According to the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, this would have been his life:

“A man actively engaged in business or in public life presently finds himself unequal to his daily tasks; he suffers odd sensations in his head; his digestion is disordered; he is weak; wakefulness, mental depression, and a thousand and one new sensations of strange character and fearful portent are superadded. The unfortunate subject of these ills now recoils from his work, gives himself up to the consideration of his symptoms, and relaxes his hold on the interests and occupations of his life. . .” [4]

Unlike today, mental health treatments at the time of Fritz’s life were not good enough to give patients any type of useful help. [5] In fact, the only real treatment available at this time was a lobotomy.  Those with mental illness and desperate for relief, turned to lobotomies. A lobotomy is a surgery to destroy the brain's prefrontal lobe. Though it’s supposed to have a "calming" effect, lobotomies often cause personality changes, a loss of decision-making ability, poor judgment, and sometimes even death. I don’t know if Fritz thought about having a lobotomy or not, but with the side effects, I can certainly understand if he chose not to have one.

As he had a family, a successful dental practice, and wealth, it's unfortunate my paternal grandfather chose to end his life. However, based on the newspaper article (see below), he suffered from depression, paranoia, anxiety, and was probably schizophrenic. And, it most probably became too much for him to handle.

__________

Sources: 

[1] Dr. F. V. Newhouse Ends Life Tuesday/Sad Event Comes as a Terrible Shock To Many Friends of Popular Rochester Dentist (1923, February). The Tribune, Mazeppa, Minnesota.
[2] The Tribune newspaper, Mazeppa, Minnesota, Feb 1923.
[3] 1884. Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, CX(3). https://doi.org.DOI: 10.1056/NEJM188401171100302
[4] 1884. op. cit
[5] Schimelpfening, N. (2022, April 19). The History of Depression: Accounts, Treatments and Beliefs Through the Ages.  Verywell Mind. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from https://www.verywellmind.com/who-discovered-depression-1066770
[6] Ibid.

The Centenarian

Photo from melfannin1 *

When David Gray was born in 1780, life expectancy was only 35 years. However, he lived to be 105 years old, dying in 1885. David Gray is a first cousin 7 times removed of my sons.

David Gray was one of five children (all sons). He was born in Pelham, Massachusetts, before the country was officially the United States of America – which happened in 1786.  He married Esther Clough in 1805; they had nine children: five sons and four daughters.

 In about 1805, David and Esther moved to New York where six of their children were born. Then, in 1818 they moved to Ohio where their three remaining children were born. 

Just think about the history David Gray lived through in his 105 years. In the year of his birth, the Revolution was still being fought. The following excerpt from his 100-year celebration states the following:

 “There was no state of Massachusetts.  It was a colony of Great Britain's, subject to King George III, who then occupied the throne. Lord North is his Prime Minister, the American colonies are in rebellion.

            “Now, in October, 1780, George Washington is 48 years old. Samuel Adams, the father of American Independence, is 58 years old.

            “The British army is in possession of New York under General Sir Henry Clinton. Lord Cornwallis is in the South overrunning the Carolinas.

            “Washington's army is but a small band of 3,000 men. There is no money. A dark cloud rests on the country.

            “Such was the land at the time this man’s began life. When he was three years old the revolutionary war ended. When young David was seven years old the Constitution of the United States was formed. When he was nine years old Washington was inaugurated President April 30th, in New York City. When he was nineteen years old Washington died.” [1]

            In his obituary, it stated that in 1801 his first vote for president was for Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. In 1881, his last vote for a president was his friend and fellow hometown resident, James Garfield. [2]  

            David and his family survived numerous epidemics – probably the pandemics of their time. For example, in 1793 about 9 percent of the United States population died from influenza, typhus, and yellow fever. Then in 1832 and 1849 there were two cholera pandemics in which over 180,000 people died. Additionally, the U.S. suffered smallpox and typhoid epidemics in 1837; yellow fever epidemics from 1841-1855 and 1865-1873. Other recurring epidemics from 1783-1885 were scarlet fever, cholera, and influenza.

Photo from Carol Plumb**

            However, the times in which David lived, who was a farmer, brought great changes that not only improved his life, but the lives of everyone in the country. Here is a sampling of some the most notable inventions: steamboats, stethoscopes, miner’s lamps, clothespins, steam shovels, barbed wire, Morse code, potato chips, jack hammers, Mason jars, hand-cranked ice cream makers, combine harvesters, reaping machines, lever-action repeating rifles, vulcanized rubber, and electric clocks.

            Below is the story of David Gray’s 100th birthday celebration. His obituary states that he died peacefully, of old age.

The Centennial Anniversary of Mr. David Gray is Celebrated at His Home in Mentor, The Painesville Telegraph (Ohio), Oct. 28, 1880. p. 3:

            David Gray, the oldest citizen of our county, was born in Pelham, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, on October 20th, 1780, while the young Republic was struggling for the priceless boon of liberty. Twenty-five years later he removed to Madison, New York, where he lived till 1818. Thence across the country through the trackless wilderness to Chardon, Ohio, where he lived for forty-nine years, or until 1867, whence he removed to Mentor, where he has since lived.

            Although an hundred years with their changes and vicissitudes, with all their joys and all their sorrows, have little by little added their weight and burdens to the shoulders of this honored old centenarian, the hundreds of friends who clasped his hand on Wednesday last, found him still hale and hearty, and still able to move among his friends and neighbors. Wednesday, his one hundredth birthday, dawned bright and clear, and but little after sunrise the old man's friends began to assemble, and soon the house was densely packed, and at one time during the day fully 600 people are believed to have been present. Four of his sons, Eli, seventy years of age; Martin, sixty-eight; George, sixty-six, and David, sixty-three, were present. Twenty-two grand-children, thirty-eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild were among the guests.

            Early in the forenoon the Chardon brass band appeared in front of the house, and Mr. Gray went out and acknowledged their courtesy.

            Among the forenoon visitors was Mr. Gray's townsman and friend, Gen. Garfield. The General spent a few moments in quiet conversation with the old man, and he arose and made a few beautiful and touching remarks congratulating him upon the years, though fraught with care yet blessed with pleasure and success, which he had passed. The aged man's eyes were filled with tears as the General concluded, and "May your days be days of pleasantness, and all your paths of peace," was the benediction which the statesman carried back with him to his home. About noon a bountiful repast was served in the front yard, which all enjoyed, but especially so the old man, who took great delight in the conversation with his friends. The old man first voted in the exciting election when Thomas Jefferson was re-elected President, and he takes great interest in the election this fall, and expresses great delight in the fact that his last ballot will be cast for General Garfield. "I have seen many good Presidents, but none who will serve my country better than Mr. Garfield. He is a great man and I feel glad when I think that my last ballot will be cast for him."

            Martin Gray, the son with whom he lives, spoke at considerable length of the virtue and life of his father, with great feeling. He spoke of his temperance, his truthfulness and integrity, the happiness of his married life, his sound judgment, and pre-eminent Christianity.

            Mr. Horace Benton, of Cleveland, said: "We meet today to commemorate the centennial of your relative and neighbor, Mr. David Gray. It is the lot of only one person in many thousand to live to the age of 100 years. Few of us realize how different was the world of 1780 from the world of today. Let us in imagination turn the wheel of time backward to that day and take our stand on October 20th, 1780. We are in the home of David Gray's parents, in Pelham, about ten miles east of the Connecticut river, in the State of Massachusetts. State did I say - no there was no such State. It was a colony of Great Britain's, subject to King George III, who then occupied the throne. Lord North is his Prime Minister, the American colonies are in rebellion.

            "Now, in October, 1780, George Washington is 48 years old. Samuel Adams, the father of American Independence, in 58 years old.

            "The British army is in possession of New York under General Sir Henry Clinton. Lord Cornwallis is in the South overrunning the Carolinas.

            "Washington's army is but a small band of 3,000 men. There is no money. A dark cloud rests on the country.

            "Such was the land at the time this man began life. When he was three years old the revolutionary war ended. When young David was seven years old the Constitution of the United States was formed. When he was nine years old Washington was inaugurated President April 30th, in New York City. When he was nineteen years old Washington died.

            "For nearly seventy years this man has been a consistent follower of Christ. He can now say, 'The time of my departure is at hand. For me to depart and be with Christ is far better.' His parents have already crossed over to the other side. His brothers and sisters have all crossed over. His wife, some of his children, part of his grandchildren, and several of his great-grandchildren have preceded him. He will not have to wait long before he will join the great company of his friends, who are awaiting his coming. Though he has lived 100 years, yet, as he looks back, his life seems very short to him; it has gone so swiftly.

            "Friends, let us who are here today congratulate him who has come down to us from a former generation, and emulate his virtue."

            The gathering broke up at sunset, all expressing themselves as having passed a very enjoyable day. 

Photo from Find A Grave, posted by TwoRoos

[1] – “The Centennial Anniversary of Mr. David Gray Is Celebrated at His Home in Mentor.” The Painesville Telegraph, 28 Oct. 1880, p. 3, http://www.ancestry.com.

[2] – “Obituary.” The Painesville Telegraph, 11 June 1885, p. 3, col. 7, http://www.ancestry.com.

* - Photo posted on Ancestry.com  ** - Photo posted on Ancestry.com.