GUSTAVAS A. MALMQUIST             GRAVESTONE PHOTO                      

The Miami Republican, Friday, July 17, 1908, Pg. 1

Vol. XLII, No. 52

Sudden Death.

  G. A. Malmquist died suddenly Friday afternoon, July 10 at his home on east Miami street.  He was about 75 years of age and was very eccentric.  He was a native of Sweden and at the age of seven years was left an orphan.  He possessed more than the average ability.  He was a graduate of college in Vienna and could speak seven languages.  He traveled extensively and was an officer in the Swedish army.  Coming to this country, he applied in person to President Lincoln for a commission in the service, but not receiving recognition, he enlisted as a private in Co. K, First regiment Maine volunteer heavy artillery, serving to the close of the war.  He was wounded twice in the service.

  After the close of the war he graduated in a Pennsylvania college, and casting his fortune in the west, he came to Paola in the summer of 1869.  For some years during his residence here he followed the occupation of painter and paper hanger and was quite successful.  At an early day in Paola he purchased property and built a good house, and it was his desire to secure a wife for his home, but there were obstacles in the way for those he might have chosen and others did not exactly meet his fancy.  He eventually gave up his boarding place and lived alone in his house, and as the years passed he became more reserved.  Several years ago he sold the house and fitted up and occupied one on an adjoining lot, where he died.

  He was well liked by his neighbors, who sympathized with him in his loneliness, but he was so sensitive that he would not permit them to favor him on any occasion, as he felt that he had no way of returning the favors.  The only person in the world he seemed to care for was little Charley Bates, son of Mrs. G. K. Bates, who lived in the neighborhood and who moved to Kansas City last year.  Occasionally he would go to Kansas City and visit several days with Mrs. Bates and family.  He went there on Friday, July 3d, and remained until Monday, taking the boy to the parks and everywhere with him.  On returning home he mowed the grass in his yard and the next day, when his neighbor, Fred Wells, went to see him, he was feeling badly.  Mr. Wells looked after him and did for him everything possible, and Friday noon went in and offered to get him anything he desired, but he would not have a physician or anything except a bucket of water.  About 6 o’clock in the evening Mr. Wells called and found him lifeless in a reclining position on the kitchen floor.  He had apparently fallen from a chair and died in an effort to reach the chair again.  Mr. Wells called Will Lewis and they placed the body on a bed and notified Coroner Van Pelt, who made inquiry and found an inquest unnecessary.

  Mr. Malmquist had been a member of the Odd Fellows order for many years and they had the remains taken to David Dunn’s undertaking rooms.  Burial took place in the Paola cemetery Sunday morning at 9 o’clock.  A brief service was held at the grave.  Mr. Malmquist was a thoroughly honorable man.  He left some property, but has no heirs and is not thought to have left a will.  He was receiving a pension for service disability of $20 per month.  Unless heirs turn up or a will is found his property will go to the State school fund.