The Rockford Republic, Thursday 5 January 1911
(Illinois)

GEORGE H. TEAGUE LOST AT SEA
Mystery Surrounds Drowning of Former Rockford Man in the Gulf of Mexico—Was Brother of Late John Teague of this City.
Further details connected with the drowning of George H. Teague, a former Rockford man, who was reported lost from the Mallory line steamship Brazos on the morning of Dec. 23 when that vessel approached Galveston from New York, have been received here and indicate that he either threw himself into the sea or fell overboard accidentally.
Mr. Teague will be remembered by many Rockford residents as a brother of the late John Teague. He was the son of William Teague, the pioneer restauranter of Rockford, and was born in Trure, Cornwall, England, about 52 years ago. He came to Rockford with his parents when a child, and was educated in the local schools. He learned the printing trade and was connected with various papers as compositor or advertising man. When he attained manhood he went to Chicago and worked on several papers as advertising solicitor, in which work he became an expert. While in Chicago he became intimately acquainted with Eugene Field. He also went to Indianapolis where he worked for a large paper, and later went to Detroit. In the later city he was married.
About twenty years ago he was employed to conduct a special advertising campaign for the Republic and then became connected with the Star. From this city he went to Loraine, O., where he was connected with a paper several years. From there he went to Texas. For a number of years he had been business and advertising manager of the Southwestern Lumberman and Industrial Review of Houston, Texas, one of the largest trade journals of the south.
Mr. Teague’s wife died last August and was buried in Detroit. They had no children and her death made him very despondent. Since her death he had been living with his sister, Mrs. Etta Teague Rein of Houston. He frequently traveled in the interests of the journal he represented and had left New York during December, expecting to return and spend Christmas with his sister. She had everything prepared for his return and was prostrated when she learned that he was missing from the ship.
He leaves one brother, Will Teague, in Iowa, besides the sister in Houston. Mrs. Walter Anglemire, deceased, who was Miss Lizzie Teague, was a sister. He was an uncle of Mrs. Will C. Sproul and Mrs. Floyd E. Westenberg of this city.
The following clipping from a Galveston paper of Dec. 23, has been received by relatives here.
"George H. Teague of Houston, one of the best known newspaper men in the Southwest, was lost from the Mallary line steamship Brazos between 2:30 o’clock and daylight yesterday morning as the vessel was approaching Galveston from New York.
"Just how the tragedy occurred is not known, but it is believed that he left his stateroom during the early morning hours and in a moment of mental aberration either fell overboard or cast himself into the gulf.
"He was not missed until morning, when the ship’s doctor, who had been attending him during the voyage, found his stateroom empty and his clothing and effects still in the compartment.
"No attempt has been made to recover the body as the steamship officials had no way of knowing in what vicinity the drowning took place.
"A wireless message from the steamship telling of the affair was flashed to Galveston as soon as he was found to be missing and relatives in Houston, his home, were notified early in the day.
"Charles H. Rein, a brother-in-law, and C. A. Newing, proprietor of the Southern Industrial and Lumber Review, with which Mr. Teague was connected, departed at once for Galveston and met the steamship as it was berthed. After learning the details they took charge of Mr. Teague’s effects and returned to Houston.
"Mr. Teague’s wife died quite suddenly last August and he had been greatly depressed since that time, his friends said yesterday. His health has failed him rapidly and at times he seemed to be suffering from extreme melancholy.
"He had been in New York, representing the Lumber Review and the Southwestern Electrician. He left New York on the Brazos, intending to spend the holidays with his sister, Mrs. Rein, of 1115 Jefferson Avenue.
"Ship officials noticed that he was very depressed and the steward and doctor looked after him particularly close. He was seen in his berth at 2:30 o’clock yesterday morning by the ship’s doctor. A few minutes later the steward noticed that the light in the stateroom was out and supposed that he had retired. Nothing further was thought of him until breakfast time, when it was discovered that he was missing. He left no note or letter, and it is believed that in a moment of insanity he cast himself overboard.
"He came to Houston six years ago from Orange, where he was associated in the management of the Orange Leader."

Contributed by Bob Bolitho