DOUGLASS

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 03:54:00 :

The Marin Journal
Thursday, August 24, 1916
Page 8

Editor Douglass Drowns In Bay

Mill Valley was the end of a sad journey last Sunday for Mrs. N. F. Douglass and Miss Eleanor Douglass, her step-daughter. They arrived from Selma, California, to find that their husband and father, who had just purchased the Mill Valley Record, lay at the office of Coroner Sawyer, his body having been found the day before floating in the bay off Sausalito.

The mother and daughter, the latter but 17 years of age, were unnerved when they were informed of the facts. They had left their home the day before on the receipt of a letter from Douglass, and expected to make their home in Mill Valley.

Douglass bought the paper from editor Hostetler about August 19th. He had been rooming at the Mill Valley Hotel and, while noticeably quiet in his demeanor, had given no inkling to the other guests that he was despondent or mentally worried. Saturday morning he left Mill Valley on an early train. A few hours later his body was found by Gus Peterson, a Sausalito launchman. The coat and vest of the deceased were found on the shore.

From information given out by the deceased, he had retired from the ministry about two years ago in Mapleton, Iowa, to purchase a small paper in Sun Dance, Wyoming. Successful in this venture, he sold out and purchased a weekly paper in Selma. From that place he had come to Mill Valley.

Douglass was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Minneapolis. He was also Knight Templar, Rose Cre?? (illegible) Degree. He was 55 years of age.