Martin - Ransom
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review 14-Apr-1962 p. 4
Waynetown- A farmer who had lived in the Waynetown area for over 50 years, drowned Friday night when he jumped into the well on his farm. Ransom Laymon Martin, 74, was pronounced dead about 10 p.m. by Fountain County Coroner Ralph Nelson. According to Fountain County Sherriff George Cruea, Martin took his own life. A note naming pallbearers for his funeral was found on the kitchen table of the farmhouse where Martin lived. “You’ll find me in the well,” the note said. Martin had taken off his clothes and left them on the kitchen floor, the sheriff said. He then apparently went into the backyard, removed the well cover and jumped in. Richard Kirts, a tenant farmer on Martin’s land, had taken some milk to the 74-year-old man about 8:30 p.m. Kirts told investigating officers that he became suspicious of the way Martin was acting. He returned to the farm an hour later, found the note on the kitchen table and called the sheriff. The Hillsboro fire department was called to the scene and pumped the water out of the well. Martin’s body, clad in underwear, was found at the bottom. Martin was born in July of 1887 in Clinton and his parents were Vonley and Margaret Myler Martin. He was a member of the Alamo Christian Church. He is survived by a sister, Mrs. Anna Cole of Kokomo, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, James and Charles Martin, and a sister, Mrs. Addie White. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the Servies Funeral Home in Waynetown with Rev. John R. Servies officiating. Burial will be in Wolf Creek Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.
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