Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-08-19


SUICIDE OF AN OLD CITIZEN IN CALI
FORNIA.--Granviile S. Branham, for
merly we'll known and respected citi-
zen of this place, but for the past twelve
years resident of California, commit
ted suicide on the 18th ult., as we learn
from the following in the Sacramento
Onion. The circumstances appear to
have been peculiarly sad and distress
ing:
observation-disclosures Reeves received informa-
ton on Monday evening that G. S. Branham
who resided in franklin township, twenty miles
south OF this city, had committed suicide. He
yesterday morning visited the late residence OF
the deceased and held an inquest, report of
which will be found in another column. Bran
hams wife died about two years ago, since
which time he has lived alone on his ranch He
appears to have become melancholy and de-
pressed in spirits to such extent that life be-
came burden to him. Although the owner of
his ranch and the stock on it. he imagined that
tempted self-destruction by means of opium,
but the effort was not successful. His daughter
sent for, and spent day or two in watching and
taking care of him. On Monday, while they
were both on the outside of the house, Branham
cut his throat with a razor and died few hours
afterwards. On or previous to Friday he wrote
several notes addressed to his son-in-law and
his state of mind. They read as follows: My
wifes spirit says come. Eliza, oh how long l
have been from her Bury me close by her grave.
have no enemies, and am no mans enemy.
God bless Noah! Kind words to all my friends.
| have got to die: the spirits call me; i slept
well last night, and feel we'll now Forgive,
oh Lord, forgive! for am in trouble Father OF
Mercy, receive my spirit into Thy kingdom. I
EEL at peace and md am perfectly tranquil: hope
am tired of life, AMI must 60. 1 have never
wronged any man, and wish all we'll. Now
subjeetof remark ms and scorn. Mans nhnmani.
ty TO man troubles me- Say to all mankind
wish them well. Twill name one for her kind
ness to my deceased wife-Fanny Burton The
deceased. in addition to passages of the above
character. gave directions as to the disposition
of his property
The deceased was about sixty years of
age. He will be remembered as the first
City Marshal of Muscatine. His son-in-
law, whom he mentions in the note
printed above is Noah NJ. Mccormick,
the founder Of the MUsCATINE JOURNAL
and the typographical preceptor of it's
present publisher.
COLORED MEN OF IOwA:-I appeal to
you in behalf of the Iowa Central SAM
tary Fair, to be held at Muscatine, the
18th of next month. Let us come for
ward to our country's rescue, and bring
forth our gifts of charity, for never in
the history of our race has a cause pre-
sented itself so formidable to us as peo-
pie for our aid, so worthy of our support
as this great, charitable and Christian
enterprise, the proceeds of which is for
our sick and wounded soldiers, whose
blood is now being poured out for all
that is sacred to us as a people, as well
as the preservation of the best govern
ment on earth. Remember, we have
one hundred thousand of our own brave
boys on the bloody field of battle, who
are to be benefited in common by these
gifts of ours.
Then let us meet on Monday, the 10Th
inst, in our respective cities, towns, and
counties throughout the State, and then
and there make our contributions, and
forward the same to the Iowa Central
Sanitary Fair by the 10th of September.
If addressed to my care will see that
they are duly presented.
ALEXANDER CLARK, (cOlored.) 4
Iowa papers please copy.