Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-10-08
HAD BEEN VERY DEsP0NDENT

uedlM was xOVA oAlO AAoN 0PSAAS "
Melancholy Came Here
in 1874.
The community was terribly
shocked and Mortified yesterday
{ Just after the noon hour as
the news spread throughout the
town that G. w. soule, one of the
best known business men in Web
ster City, had committed suicide in
a fit Of mental alteration. Mr. Soule
has been i'll most of the time during
the present year, but, has been able
{ to get out occasionally. At times
he has been very respondent and it
is supposed that he was taken with
one of these depressing spells when
he committed the terrible deed
which ended his life. He shot him
self with a revolver just above the
right ear while the family were at
dinner and died few minutes lat
er. He had not been out of bed
yesterday and the family supposed he
was asleep in his room when they
sat down to- the noon spread. A few
minutes after they had begun to eat
their dinner they heard the report
of the shot in Mr.. Soule's room and
fastening to him found he had shot
himself. Two physicians were sum-
moned at once but life was extinct
before their arrival upon the scene.
G! w. Soule was a native of AL
bany county, N. Y, his birth having
occurred near the Hudson river,
twenty miles below Albany, on the
26th OF April, 1850. He was a son
OF Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. H. Soule. The
father followed the sea and for many
years was engaged in making voy-
ages in northern Pacific and Arctic
waters, sailing from the port Of
New Bedford, Mass. When c. w.
Soule was five years old, the father
removed with his family to Syra-
cuse, N. Y, and there he made his
home until 1871 when he came with
his wife and children to Webster
City. The mother is still living with
her sons family in this city.
The deceased was but a small boy
when his parents removed to SYRIA
cuse, N. Y, where he attended the
public schools until he was fifteen
years of age. In 1865 he sailed with
his father from New Bedford, Mass,
upon a voyage which continued for
two years. at the end of which time
his father placed him In college at
Honolulu, Sandwich Islands. Many
of those prominent in the islands
today were Mr.. Soule's schoolmates.
Z After remaining in this college for
some time, Mr.. Soule sailed around,
the world with his father and moth
ier, visiting many Of the important
points upon the face OF the globe.
On his return to the United States.
Mr.. Soule accepted a position with
q wholesale firm of Syracuse, N. "
and remained upon the road as a
traveling salesman until 1874. In
that year he came west and has
since been resident of Webster
City. He first engaged in conduct
ing a lumber yard and dealing in
livestock and agricultural imple-
ments. carrying on business along
these lines for several years with
excellent success. In 1888 he estab-
lished brick and tile yard under
the firm name Of Soule. Hagan &
Funk. Mr.. Soule built the plant
and managed the business, which
proved a successful concern and lat
eer he purchased the interests of his
partners. Mr.. Soule is still the larg-
est stockholder in this business. 1t
now being known as the Acme Co.
Operative Brick & Tile Company.
In the year OF his arrival in this
city Mr.. Soule was united in mar
riage to Miss Alice Howard OF Port
Byron, New York, who with a
daughter, Mrs John F. Carey. sur
wives the father.
As man and citizen the deceas-
ed was always public spirited and
progressive and his cooperation was
heartily given to every movement
and measure that tended to the ad-