Fred Kitterer
Dec. 6, 1870-March 29, 1909
Fred Kitterer A victim of Typhoid Fever
Fred Kitterer Succumbs to dread disease.
Water source of infection Declares the attending physician
Some of the ways in which typhoid is spread.
The typhoid epidemic has claims a victim. Fred Kitterer of State Street, West Niles, died about 9 o’clock last Saturday night, March 29, 1909, having taken to his bed with typhoid fever last Wednesday.
Mr. Kitter, who was in the prime of a vigorous manhood, and who was a very picture of health up to less than a week ago, was born in Bertrand Township, Dec. 6, 1870, and had been a resident of Niles for years. He was well know and deservedly popular with wide circle of friends. Fraternally he was identified with the German Workingmen’s Benevolent association. Mr. Kitterer is survived by a widow, mother and three brothers, Robert of Niles; also two sisters, Mesdames, John Streible of near Niles and Robert Kossman of South Bend.
The funeral will take place from the home at 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon. Rev. Mrs. Yonker officiating. Burial will take place at Silver Brook Cemetery.
What Dr. Ullery says
Dr. Ullery, who attended Mr. Kitterer during his last illness, says that after investigating with a view to ascertaining the source of the disease, he is of opinion that it was due to polluted city water, of which Mr. Kitterer, who was an employee of the Niles Steel Tank Company, drank freely at the plant daily.
As to the city water, the state bacteriologist, who recently analyzed a sample of it, said, among other things as follows. The contamination in its present condition, while distinctly present, is not of very high degree, but is presence might give rise to the suspicion that a higher degree of contamination may have been present and may be present again at some future period.
Submitted by family member; publication details unknown