The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-01-05
Suicide.

~ 0uxCl08s u
= We give below the circumstances
attending tho suicide of John White.
ESQ.,, Of Oakalocsa, as detailed by
the Herdln.
Mr.. White was one Of the oldest
residents of Mahaska County, aud
was well and Familiarity known by
very many Of our readers. His
death occurred on the Gath inst:
"Our whole community was shock
ed last Saturday afternoon by the
intelligence that John White, Presi-
dent Of the National State Bark, and
BY far the wealthiest man in the
county, had committed suicide. For
some weeks past Mr.. White had been
ailing and in depressed spirits, and
tor some days it was known that he
WAS ont Of his right mind, but it was
not thought TO be anything serious,
but generally supposed to have been
induced by TOO close attention to
business, and brooding over the cares
that visit even the most successful.
and those best conversant with him
and his affairs expected to $50 him
at his post again in . few days or
weeks ct fhrthest. Friday and Sat
nrday be appeared better, and about
2 O'clock put on his overcoat and
gloves and went to the barn locked
the door before Mrs. White could
got there, and proceeded to the loft,
whore with q log.chain thrown over
. beam he hanged himself. Mrs. w
was alone, and some minutes elapsed
ere she could gain entrance, and
when she did she could not get him
down, though she made two despc-
rate Intellectual efforts to do so.-
Coroner Ncedham was notified at
once, and from the large crowd that
assembled at the residence Gone mile
north Of the square) Messrs. r. l.
Robson, VIM. Nash and G. Monroe
were selected jurors, who rendered a
verdict in accordance with the facts
% set forth above.
When we say that feelings OF sorrow
peryaded the whole community, We
speak az man of man, for John
White, though a rich man, had those
IN every family, who were friends to
the man and not to his money
Money-lending was his professor,
snd yet the proverbial hard. hearted
ness credited to his class found not a
place in his bosom, for there are few
men from whom accom- modations
could 90 easily be obtained, or who
we're more averse to proceeding TO
Extremes with o creditor, and yet his
affairs are in a. good q condition as
hey could possibly be, which shows
hat no cause for the rash deed could
1svc existed, except in Ills mind as
by sickness. John White
was born in Vermont, and at an early
day moved TO Hamilton county.
ohio, where among other pursuits he
ollowcd the dangerous and laborious
'ne of fat boatman on the Ohio
liver. Moving to Iowa he first set
led in Jefferson county, but soon sold
nut there and came TO this county,
md with what little he had entered
and much Of which is now in the city /
i Oskal0oss, and thus laid tho ioua-
alton Tor the splendid fortune he
'as worth when he died. lie was /
be same genial, companionablc per-
on to the man whose purse contain
d not a dollar, that be was to the
chest aristoclat in the land, mover
wned upon others, and was far from
lsitiDg it upon himself. In more
'ays than one his loss will DO sadly
1t in our community, for he was a
an whose money never sid long
10, and greatly given to iMgspve-
snts himself. ssd encouraging il in
hers, =