The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-11-30

Inc outciuo ~ Vliiom III C0OIDnuKns
The startling death OF the late viii
liam Il. Coolbaugh by his own hand,
says the Chicago Tribune, has cast 4
gloom over the whole city, and will oc-
casion feeling Of profound regret and
sadness In tho business circles Of the
East and West, In which he was well
known, formerly, as u leading merchant
and for many years great banker.
The nnexpectedncss Of the event has
added 10 the force Of the shock. II the
question had been asked Of any resi-
dent Of Chicago which one Of her promi-
nent citizens would be likely u end his
life by suicide on the morrow, William
Il. Coolbaugh would have been almost
the last TO be selected. Apparently he
had every thing about him 10 make life
agreeable and worth living for He
had hosts Of warm friends. His genial
nature had made him widely esteemed.
He had amassed large fortune by hon
orable means. and lived in the midst Of
all the luxurics that wealth can procure.
lie was at the head Of a powerful, sol
vent. influential banking institution. His
children were comfortably settled in life.
Passionately ford Of field sports, he had
Robustness of physique which enabled
him To enjoy them. Fond Of good living,
he was able to crafty his tastes. Pos
scssing many friends, his natural gem
crosby made him most hospitable en-
tcrtainer. Thus situated, living in
palatial residence, and surrounded by
all the pleasant things that culture can
suggest and wealth procure--in one fla
tai instant Of time he ends il all, and
passes from the pleasures and hopes of
life into the gloomy and solemn shades
of the dead.
The incidents of his career may be
briefly told. lie was born in 1921, in
Pike County, PENNSYLVANIA, and went
into mercantile business for himself as
soon as he came Of age. From 1912 TO
1850 he was successful merchant in
Burlington, Iowa, but in the latter year
retired from mercantile business and
organized the clearinghouse Of Cool
baugh a Brooks. Twelve years later he
removed 10 Chicago and established the
clearinghouse OF Coolbaugh & Co.,
which ia February, 1865, became the
Union National Bank, with himself As
President. Upon the organization Of
President, and was also President Of
the National Bankers Association for
the West and Southwest. Mr. Cool
baugh had also occupied important POI
litical positions. He was appointed
Loan Agent by the first General Assem-
bly, Of Iowa, negotiated the
first loans ever made by that
State. and directed the issue Of its
first bonds. He was Douglas Demo-
crat during the eventful career Of that
Illinois statesman, and voted for him
from first 70 last in the Baltimore Con-
vention. For eight years he was
member of the Iowa Senate. In 1856
he was delegate in the Democratic
Convention ut Cincinnati, and voted for
Buchanan and Breckenridge, but dur
ing the war, like the other Douglas
Democrats, he gave Mr.. Lincoln and the
Government his hearty support. AL
though not taking a thoroughly active
part in politics, his name had been mem
toned in connection with the United
States Senate. II Tilden had been elect
ed, there Is reason to believe that he
would have been offered the Treasury
portfolio. He was leading member Of
the Illinois Constitutional Convention,
and largely, il not chiefly, to his efforts
in that body il due the important pro-
vision limiting the issuing OF bonds and
mourning municipal Indebtedness in ex-
cess Of 5 per cent. on the taxable value
OF property.
With his career since he has been in
Chicago the public is already 50 familiar
that we need not refer to il. He had
been twice married first in 1871 10
daughter Of Judge Brown, Of Kentucky,
and in 1864 10 4 daughter 81 q. I. N.
Reeve, Of Newburg, N. ~, by each 81
whom he has had three children. In
his religious beliefs his opinions were
not sufficiently settled to lead him TO
identity himself with any particular de-
nomination, although he was quite regu-
lar ID Observation-Disclosures
In eases Of this kind, especially where
the victim Of suicide Is a prominent per-
son, the first question that springs to
the lips Il, Why did he do il? II l.
curiosity SO natural that il may almost
be said 70 be born Of sympathy. The
first conjecture in Mr. Coolbaugh's case
would be that some financial difficulty
had occasioned il. Such, however, y
not the case. The Union National Bank
Is perfectly solvent, with heavy sum
\ in cash aud large amount Of excellent
paper in its vaults, and his private at
fairs are not embarrassed. There was
nothing in his worldly business matters
to tempt him 70 commit suicide.
10 R.norafe Biack Cioth. Clean tho