HADLEY, Jonathan - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Last Monday morning word came to our usually quiet city that Jonathan Hadley of Sugar Creek Township, Parke County had committed suicide by hanging himself while in a despondent mood.  He had it appears been suffering for several days previous with mental depression which was noticed by the family and his actions were watch by his invalid wife who was not able to take the necessary surveillance his case demanded.  Rumor has it that he had previously made a similar attempt but was prevented by some member of the family who happened to be near at the time.  His children, three sons are all honored members of the profession of the law, the two eldest living in Whatcom, Washington, the youngest in Rockville.  This left none of the family at but himself and invalid wife and domestic, Sabra Tomlinson.  He ate his breakfast as usual and went out to do the chores.  Not returning to the house as soon as he should have done, Mrs. Hadley requested the hired girl to step out to the barn and see what her husband was doing.  She went as directed and on passing a small log stable she looked in when horror of horrors – the object of her search met her bewildered gaze, hanging with a log chain around his never over the manger.  Such a sight as this is enough to make the stoutest heart quail and no wonder the poor girl became almost paralyzed and sand to the earth before giving the alarm.  However, she managed to give the alarm when John Irvin, a carpenter who was working on Wilson Towel’s house, came to the scene of death.  There was none to help Mr. Irvin take the lifeless form from where it hung but a daughter of Robert Dix who is about 16 years old.  Mr. Irvin held the body up while Miss Dix unfasten the chain and let the body down.  The coroner of Parke County was called and after examining several witnesses rendered a verdict in accordance with the above.  It is said his feet were almost touching the floor and he could have easily put them on the manger if he had wanted to save himself.  How different this morning’s scene in this unusually quiet Quaker neighborhood was from the one that occurred in the manger at Bethlehem of Judes over 18 centuries ago.  Then there was cause for much rejoicing for a Savior was born into the world to redeem fallen man.  Now, there was great sorrow for the loss of a husband, father and neighbor.  Then the heavenly choir sang praised to God; now relatives and friends weep for the loss of a fellow man by his own hand.  Then a life was ushered into the world that “Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (St John iii-2 v?) now a life was lost by self-destruction which was forbidden.  Such gentle reader are a few of the many reflections which come to our mind in thinking about this and ended of Jonathan Hadley’s life. He was possessed of plenty of this world’s goods, so that he might have enjoyed the decline of life without its cares and burdens.  He had recently sold off his stock and had rented his farm with the intention of removing to Bloomingdale, where he had intended to pass the remainder of his life.  He was nearly 63 years old at the time of his death.  Suicide is fearful to contemplate and why so many commit the rash act is nothing but mere conjecture.  A great deal has been said and written on this subject but if any one has arrived at its proper solution, it is not known.  Each suicide, however, has his or her peculiar route by which to go out.  Once conceived and the means to be need are never changed until finally the object is accomplished.  A man who attempts suicide by poison never hands himself or cuts his throat for in his estimation nothing but poison of some kind will kill him.  --- kbz