William took his life (slit his throat with a razor) in 1894 in Laramie, WY. The obituary says his "stepmother," Mrs. B.U. Strong from Spring Green, WI, was traveling out to Laramie, WY after William's death.
After some digging, it seems the Strongs took William into their home in Spring Green, perhaps after his mother, Emeline Heath Amesbury, had died around 1860 or 1861.
According to the 1860 census, the Strongs (in Spring Green, WI) had one daughter, Ella. Yet in the 1870 census, the Strong household listed Ella (18) and "Willie (15). It seems "Willie" was William Henry Amesbury who did indeed go to the Terry Academy in Spring Green, where he met his future wife Helen Luella ("Nellie") George. The question is whether or not the Strongs adopted him or were his guardians or what the exact relationship was. Note, William's obituary also said that he had 8 siblings. He had 7 Amesbury siblings, but it looks like Ella Strong was counted as his eighth.
It's unknown when his mother Emeline Health Amesbury died. His father, Levi Allen Amesbury, had died before 1860. Here is William's obituary from the Laramie Daily Boomerang, March 31, 1894:
W. H. Amesbury died at his late home on east University avenue at 3 o'clock this morning. It was unusually sad because be died as the result of self-inflicted wounds. The fact is already known that Mr. Amesbury cut his throat with a razor yesterday in a despondent moment and that his life hung in the balance from that time to the hour of his death.
Mr. Amesbury was 39 years of age the 20th of last September. He was born at Janesville, Wisconsin, and came to Wyoming in 1879, entering the employ of A. Trabing at Medicine Bow. In 1880 he came to Laramie and became a trusted employee of Mr. Trabing (see photo two pages back). He had eight brothers and sisters. Three sisters and one brother are living. One sister is an operator in California and another is a teacher in Chicago. The deceased’s stepmother, Mrs. B.U. Strong, left Spring Green, Wisconsin, this afternoon for this city and will arrive Monday. It is thought the funeral will be held Monday afternoon.
Mr. Amesbury was a prominent member of the Odd Fellows of the state. He was captain of the canton of this city and was the grand lodge secretary. The funeral will be under direction of the Odd Fellows.
There is no doubt in the mind of any one but that Mr. Amesbury was insane. Two of his brothers attempted their lives and a sister succeeded in killing herself. Mrs. Amesbury has the sympathy of the community.”
(Peggy Fischer, great granddaughter of William Henry Amesbury)
