NORTH VERNON PLAIN DEALER - MARCH 29, 1906
HODAPP ENDS LIFE
Wealthy Resident of Seymour, Prominent in Business, Fraternal and Political Circles, Hangs Himself to Chandelier
Seymour was shocked this afternoom by the suicide of Joseph H. Hodapp, president of the Hodapp Hominy Company and one of the most prominent and popular men in the county. When members of the family went to his room at 3 o'clock this afternoon to call him to the telephone they found the door locked. After getting into the room through a window the lifeless body of Mr. Hodapp was found hanging from a gas chandelier in the middle of the room. He had secured a new rope for the purpose. His feet were about eight inches off the floor and he had evidently strangled to death. Mr. Hodapp was 56 years old and was known throughout southern Indiana. He was a trustee of the Pigeon Roost Monument Commission, appointed by ex-Governor Durbin, and was chairman of the Jackson County Council. He had served in the City Council and belonged to the following orders: Elks, K. of P., I.O.O.F., Eagles, T.P.A., and Court of Honor. He held a life insurance policy for $20,000. Mr. Hodapp was prominent in Republican politics. He was of a charitable disposition, and it is said that every farmer in a radius of twenty miles was his intimate friend. Several days ago it became rumored that Mr. Hodapp was financially embarrassed and it is said that several to whom he was under obligations made demands upon which he could not fulfill at such short notice. Shea & Wood counsel for the hominy company say that Mr. Hodapp could have met all obligations and deny that the company was insolvent. Mr. Hodapp is thought to have brooded over the actions of his supposed friends in making demands upon him and this is believed to have been the cause of his act. He leaves four brothers here who are all well-to-do farmers, one brother in Kansas and six sisters. Mrs. Hodapp and eight children survive. - News
Joseph H. Hodapp
Joseph Hodapp's daughter Josephine married Josiah Andrews Harding Jr. who prior to his move to Seymour was prominent in Jennings County. His descendants donated some diary's of his to the Jennings County Public Library and wonderful old Coverlet made by his grandmother to the Jennings County Historical Society. Here is a link to a page on this site about their donation. Josiah Andrews Family
Graham Atkins Andrews son of Josiah Andrews Harding Jr. & Josephine Hodapp.
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