Seybold - George
Source: Waveland Independent newspaper, Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana May 3, 1901
Our people were much pained Sunday to learn that George Seybold of Darlington, a former citizen of Waveland had taken his own life by hanging. On being missed, search was made, and the body found hanging from a beam in a wareroom in the second story of his hardware store. While not in financial difficulties, he was overloaded with work and responsibility, and had been in poor health for some time. He also worried over the insanity of his brother, James and had been heard to say that he would rather die than go to the asylum. While living here he built the residence owned by Wm. McClain and carried on a hardware store in what is now Dillman's wareroom. Those who attended the funeral from here were Miss Sattie Smith; AJ Wolfe and wife; JM Ghormley; WA Deitrick; TL Hanna and George Hanna. -- kbz
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 3 May 1901 p 9
Last Sunday morning at Darlington, George Seybold a prominent citizen of Montgomery County committed suicide by hanging himself in his hardware store. He was insane. Mr. Seybold had been losing his mind for some time and the fact preyed upon him terrible. Some months ago he had a brother near Browns’ Valley to go insane and make repeated attempts at suicide and it thought that Mr. Seybold’s constant brooding over this together with comparison of his symptoms with his brother’s caused the unbalancing of his mind. He was at the head of the firm of Seybold & Co. Hardware merchants of Darlington, a leading concern of the town and with him were associated Allie Peterson and Israel Butler. He was rated a fine business man and had been prominent in the affairs of the town after his removed there from Waveland. The first did a big business and was prosperous. Of late, however, it was realized that Mr. Seybold was not himself and the fact greatly worried his friends and relatives. He complained of insomnia and on March 16 he consulted Dr. Peacock who advised him to take a long rest from business. This Mr. Seybold state he was unable to do. He grew worse, however and was usually awake from one of two o’clock to daylight, often going out to walk. On last Friday he had a talk with Rev. AS Buchanan in which he stated plainly that he was rapidly losing his mind and was in great distress. He said he had studied the case of his insane brother and was satisfied that their symptoms were identical. He impressed Mr. Buchanan at the time as insane but he did not hint at any thought of suicide. So far as can be ascertained he never discussed suicide with anyone at all. To several, however, he expressed a fear of approaching insanity. On Saturday he was busy about the store and retired at night as usual. On Sunday morning when Mrs. Seybold awoke she found that her husband had arisen and later that he was not about the house. Being somewhat worried she called Dr. Peacock and requested him to look for the missing man. Dr. Peacock proceeded to the store of Seybold & Co, entering by a key that he been given him. Mr. Seybold was not down stairs to the doctor went up into the stove room. A terrible sight awaited him there for suspended from one of the joists was hanging the dead body of Mr. Seybold. The doctor at once called several witnesses and after notifying Coroner Dennis the body was cut down and taken home. Coroner Dennis at once proceeded to Darlington and held is inquest. Rev. Buchanan and Dr. Peacock testified as to their conversations with Mr. Seybold, and JC Hunt, SS Martin and others as to the finding of the body. It seems from the testimony that the deceased had gone to the store between six and seven o’clock Sunday morning and gone directly upstairs. He laid his hat carefully on a nearby box and then coimibed upon some wagon sides that were piled some 5 or 6’ high. From the top of this pile he was able to tie a rope to a joist. In the end of this rope he made a double sli knot and adjusted the loop about his neck, placing the knot carefully behind one ear. He then stepped off, sustaining a drop of perhaps 2’. He must have clowly strangled and it is likely was conscious for some time. He could easily have saved himself, had he repented of his act, by reaching up and swinging himself by the rope over to the pile of wagon sides. But he was evidently bent on self destruction, holding it to be his best relief from suffering. Mr. Seybold’s tragic taking off, of course, caused a profound sensation in Darlington and little else was talked of there Sunday. He was a man highly esteemed in the community and his death was lamented by everyone. He was married some years ago to a daughter of Silas Peterson, and their married life was a very happy one. Mr. Seybold was an active worker in the church, especially in Sunday School and for a long time had been identified with the county Sunday School association. Last term of the circuit court he was one of the petit jurors and at tha time no one associated with him had the least intimation he was mentally afflicted. He was a man in good circumstances and it is said he carried in addition a heavy life insurance. Besides his wife the deceased leaves five children the oldest 16 years of age. He had just recently completed and moved into a handsome new residence. - kz
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 3 May 1901
Our people are so accustomed to the unexpected happening that we are at all times on the lookout, yet when the news of the death of George Seybold spread over town it created a feeling of awe and alarm never before felt. Only a very few of his most intimate friends ever thought of anything of the kind, and they had a very remote idea that some time in the far off future he might become a charge to his friends. Yet all were totally unprepared for the tragedy when it came, and Darlington was shocked as never before. He was a man in the prime of life, a successful business man; not only a church member but a church worker, a devoted Sunday school worker, surrounded by a pleasant and happy family, a devoted and loving wife, with all the necessities and many of the luxuries of life, a beautiful home and almost everybody his friend. In fact, to us it looked like he had everything to live for, but little do we know of the workings of the inner man, and today we are fully satisfied that on that fatal Sunday morning George Seybold was an insane man. His funeral took place Tuesday at 1 p.m., conducted by the K. of P., of which he was a member. There were one hundred and twenty in line. The family has the sympathy of the entire community in this their great sorrow and bereavement. They have lost a kind husband and father, the town one of its most enterprising citizens, the church and Sunday school a devoted and earnest worker. Yet let us all hope while we may not understand, that all his ways are just.