Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
Ed Smith
Odon Journal
August 11, 1905 pg. 1 col. 4
SUICIDE OF ED SMITH
Brooding Over Losses of Sunday Storm, Ends His Life By Drowning
Wednesday afternoon occurred a deeper tragedy than the destruction of property, when the news was sent through the community that Ed Smith one of the heaviest losers of the storm had committed suicide.
He had been brooding over his losses, his barns were blown down, his corn stripped, his wheat floating on the water, his hay molding and the prospect must have cause a temporary derangement of his mind. The Smith home is on the north side of the road running east and west. On the south side is an old house which he used as a machinery shed. Behind this old house and just in front of the door of his residence is an old well covered by planks and puncheon. Smith removed the puncheon, took off his hat, sat down on the up turned timber and slid in. The well is scarcely more than three feet deep, the water standing about seven feet deep.
After dinner Wednesday Smith with two or three hands expected to work in his damaged crops. A telephone message notified him that a man whom he was expecting to help him could not come. This seemed to worry him and he went out on the back porch and talked with the other men as to who else could be gotten to help. They talked awhile when Smith suddenly rising said: "I'll be back in a few minutes," and went out. That was the last seem of him alive.
Although worrying over his financial losses, Smith was by no means ruined by the storm. He had 120 acres of land worth from $8000 to $10000, with $3000 or $4000 indebtedness. He carried $2000 insurance in the Modern Woodmen which will be paid to his widow. The inquest was held yesterday.
Contributed by: Donna Clark