Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-01-05
The Suicide Of NIr.JOhn White
Of OSkalOOSa.

The SUICIDE Oh Mr.JOUm w 0Ite,
OF OskalOOsa.
The Herald has the appended ac-
count Of this sad affair:
"Our who g community was shock
ed last ST. Jurday afternoon by the
inteIligep 70 that John White, Presi-
dent OF the National State Bank, and
by far the wealthiest man in the
County, had committed suicide. For
some weeks past Mr.. White had been
ailir &, and in depressed spirits, and
for some days it was known that he
was out Of his right mind, but it was
not thought to be anything serious,
bat 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 see him at
his post again in few days or weeks
at farthest. Friday and Saturday he
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 get there,
and proceeded to the loft where, with
log chain thrown over beam, he
hanged himself. Mrs. White 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 desperate
Intellectual efforts to do so. Coroner
Needham was notified ut once, and
from the large crowd that assembled
ut the residence, lone mile north Of
the square) Messrs. II. /. Robson,
VIM. Nash and Charles Monroe were
selected jurors, who rendered ver-
dict in accordance with the facts as
set forth above.
When we say the feeling of sorrow
pervaded the whole community, we
speak as man Of man, for John
White, though rich man, had those
in every family who were friends 10
the man and not to his money.
Money-lending was his profession,
and yet the proverbia, hard hearted
ness credited to his class found not q
place in his bosom, for there are few
men from whom accommodations
could so easily be obtained, or who
were more aveise to proceeding to
extremes with creditor, and yet
his affairs are in as good n condition
as they could possibly. be, which
shows t. at no canse for the rash deed
could lave existed, except In his
mind as affected by sickness. John
White was born In Vermont, and at
M early day moved to Hamilton
County, Ohio, where among other
pursuits he followed the dangerous
and labOrious one Of flat-bOatman on
the Ohio river. Moving to Iowa he
first settled in Jefferson County, but
sold out there and came to this
County, and with what little he had
entered land, much Of which il now
in the city of Oskal0Osa, and thus
laid the foundation for the splendid
fortune he was worth when he died
He was tho same genial, companion
able person to the man whose purse
contained not dollar, that he was
to the richest aristocrat In the land
never fawned upon others, and was
fur from inviting itupon himself. 7,
TnUFu Ways than one his loss will b.
sadly felt In our community, for III
was Il man whose money never lait
long idle, and greatly given to i'm
provements himself, and encouraging
it in others.
The funeral takes place at the
Friends Yearly Meeting House, to.
day, Goth inst, the services having
been delayed to await the arrival Of
friends from Assistance. The MasOni
and Odd Fellows will conduct thu