Martin Verhoeven

Old photographs  allow us a glimpse in time of the past inhabitants of our great city.  But to reveal some interesting truths about the subjects, we sometimes need to dig a little deeper. We look at these serious faces and seldom see the real story.  We fail to see the humanity behind their stoic looks. 

Pictured is Martin and Elizabeth Verhoeven with their family. Martin was born in Holland on February 12, 1858 and died on September 1, 1908.  He was working at the R. Brand and Sons Furniture Company in Oshkosh in an elevator shaft when the elevator suddenly descended, killing him.  His spouse sued the company for $5000 in damages.  I've not been able to yet determine if she was successful in her lawsuit.  Using one of the internet's inflation calculators, it tells me that $5,000 in 1910 dollars would have the buying power of about $122,000 today.  No small sum indeed, but more importantly, one wonders how the family fared without their patriarch.