The Republican journal., 1911-01-26
OBITUARY.

The community was shocked and saddened
last Monday noon when it became known tina
Henry Staples, well known and popular citi
zen, had committed suicide. For many years HI
had been engaged in the clothing business OF
Main street, and Monday morning his clerk
Mr.. G. E. Hall, opened the store as usual anG
then went to breakfast. On his return he
found the door locked, and although it was
usual for Mr.. Staples to be there at that time
he thought nothing of it. But as time wore
on and it approached the dinner hour, when
Mr.. Staples always relieved him, he began to
feel anxious, and going to the rear of the store
he saw the overcoat of his employer and then
feared the worst. Calling in passerby to
to mind the store he began systematic search
OF the premises first going through the celler
and finally to the attic, where he found the
ilfeless body OF MIR. Staples, who had commit
ted suicide by hanging. He at once summon
ed coroner c. K. Coombs, who decided that an
inquest was unnecessary, and the body was
taken to his boarding place on Spring street.
Although those who have met Mr. Staples of
late say he has had periods of extreme de-
spondency, people generally knew him as full
of life and fun, and found it hard to realize
that he had taken his own life. He was not
known to have any business troubles, and it
must have been ill health resulting in tempor-
airy insanity that caused him to make away
with himself. Mr.. Staples was born in Belfast
on the Staples homestead, between the Board
Landing an6 Mason's Mills, the son of the late
Alfred and Abigail Crowell Staples, and is sur
vived by four brothers--Leander of Brooks;
Marion of Joplin, Mo-; Leroy of East Bel
fast, and Roscoe of Rockland August 1S,
1864, being then in his teens, he enlisted in
the u S. Navy and served on the steamship
Rhode Island until the close of the Civil War
After the close of the war he engaged in fish
ing and bay coasting for time and then went
into business on shore. In partnership with
the late Thomas Haugh he conducted the
Windsor Hotel for several years. He then
with Fred V. Cottrell bought the clothing
business of Mrs. c. w. Haney, IL Main street,
and after doing business for several years as
Staples & Cottrell he bought his partners in
terest and continued under his own name The
past season the store was remodeled and i'm
proved, had new plate glass 'front.' and the
second floor was fitted up as department for
boys clothing, making it the best appointed
clothing store in the city. For fifteen years
Mr.. Clarence E. Hall had been his efficient and
popular clerk and their relations were most
pleasant. Mr.. Staples was Past Commander
of Thomas H. Marshall Post, G. A. R., and had
served for many years as quartermaster He
was Past Sachem of Tarratine Tribe of Red
Men, and for four years their Keeper of Wam-
pun, and was also q member of Silver Cross
Lodge, Knights of Pythias. In politics he was
Democrat and an active and jealous one and
had twice been the nominee of his party for
alderman. At the time of his death he was a
member of the board of overseers of the poor
He married Miss Ruth Bruce of this city, and
their married life was an exceptionally happy
one, and her death five years ago was a sad
blow to him, During her life he was con-
slant attendant at the Universalist church
Mr.. Staples was of a very social disposition,
fond of joke and of good story, and his
store was a favorite resort of Grand Army
men and seafarers. He never lost his love for
the salt water and greatly enjoyed occasional
fishing trips down the bay, when he would be
the life of the party. He was past master
in the art Of chowder making and was often
called upon to officiate in that capacity for a
shore party. In the Grand Army, the secret So
ceties and in business circles he will be greatly
missed land he is deeply mourned by his surviv-
ing brothers. Between them there has al
ways been very strong fraternal feeling.
The funeral service, which has been deferred
to await the arrival of his brother from Mis-
at Is Spring street Rev. Ashley A. Smith,
pastor of the Universalist church. will oficiate
Center Montville January 2, 1911, at the age of
S8years, 9 months and ls days She was born in
Belfast, March 20, 1922, the daughter Of James
and Jane IDarham) McCrillis. She was sister
IL the late Geo. D. McCrilis Of Belfast, who
was for many years register of deeds, and was
the last but one of family of ten children.
sister, Mrs Lernda Carter of Belfast, sur
viving her, In ls41, she became the wife of
Geo. D. Palmer Of Lincolnville, xna Eve girls
and fear boys were born to th8m. A few
years ago the husband died, leaving her to per-
sue life's journey with her two remaining
daughters, Mrs, Eliza usssterhouse and Mrs.
Kittie Hannun. whe Very tenderly cared for
her in her dsclinipg ears. "Grammie Palmer" !"
as we all callee s.,er, had a sunny disposition
and was loves by all, both old and young, who
knew her, Xad many will hold her in sweet re-
membtsA.ce. She united with the Baptist
Nchtuiteh in Belfast when quite young and re-
tained her membership until her death. She
was a charter member of Georges River
grange, but later joined Union Harvest, of
which she was an honorary member. in the
time of the rebellion her husband and two
Oldest sons went into the service at their
countrys call and she bravely kept the remain.
der of the family together during their alb
s.nce. The funeral services were held IN
Center Montville January 9th, Hollis M. How.
ard officiating. She leaves to mourn their
loss two daughters, Eliza Waterhouse and
Kittie Hannum of Montville, and three sons
James of Montville; George of Liberty ane
Charles of Reading Mass; also nine granc
children and thirteen great grandchildren. The
following poem is published by request.
A VACANT PLACE
There's a song whose notes are low and swee,
And the words are sad and tender