ASHBY, Eugene C. - Putnam

Ladoga June 11 – Funeral services for Eugene C. ASHBY will be held at the residence here Monday afternoon at 2:30 Rev VD Ragan, pastor of the Ladoga Presbyterian church will be in charge. Burial will be in the Ladoga Cemetery. Mr. Ashby, despondent over continued ill health took his own life in a room at the Stevens Hotel in Chicago Thursday night. In letters addressed to members of his family he told of his long suffering from an incurable ailment and said that he no longer could stand the ordeal. All members of the family are either in Ladoga or en route here at the present time. The body will arrive Sunday afternoon at 2 over the Monon railroad. Mr. Ashby was one of the best known residence of the county and had been connected with the business life of Ladoga for nearly half a century. - kbz

Source: Indianapolis Star 11 June 1932 p 4

Chicago, June 10 – EC Ashby of Ladoga, Ind committed suicide in his room at a local hotel today. Wrapping himself in a blanket, Ashby swallowed poison and then shot himself in the heart. He left several notes  one of them addressed to his son, J. Russell Ashby, salesman for the Chicago investment firm of Field, Glore & Co. Ashby had registered at the hotel last night, giving his address as Indianapolis. Ladoga is near Crawfordsville, Ind. A note addressed to his brother, Edgar Ashby at Indianapolis, read: “My dear brother Ed: I am now at low 12. The gong has sounded, my life’s work is finished and no medicine of Mother Nature can help me.  Since Em left me I have been despondent and sad. She treated me badly. However, I love her. I know she loved me, but the son – I want you to settle my estate as best you can. “  He appended a list of his farm property and mortgages and gave instructions for taking care of his employees. The son refused to identify Em referred to in the letter and asked that the topic not be mentioned.  Charles Reynolds, coroner’s investigator was informed by Russell Ashby that his father’s financial condition was good  but that he had been despondent over the death of his wife Theresa and his own ill health.  His will left 160 acres of land, $25,000 insurance and $3,000 in bonds.  Four children survive Frank Ashby, Detroit, Mich; Russell, living at Geneva, Ill;  Mrs.. Carl Crawford Morgantown, W Va. -kz

Source: Indianapolis Star 11 June 1932 p 4

Crawfordsville, Ind June 10 – Eugene C. Ashby, secretary of the Ladoga Building and Loan Association, who committed suicide at Chicago today, was one of Montgomery County’s most prominent citizens. Mr. Ashby was 69 years old and for 25 years had been secretary of the Ladoga association. He at one time was an officer in the State Building and Loan Association and was known widely in business circles throughout the state.  Relatives at Ladoga said today that Mr. Ashby’s suicide had been prompted by an illness which he had been suffering for some time. Before ending his life he sent registered letters to his four children explaining his act. Another letter had been written to his brother, Edgar Ashby of Indianapolis but this letter had never been mailed. The brother, who visited at Ladoga yesterday and who is president of the Ladoga Canning Company, reported that he had a premonition of impending tragedy; as his brother left Ladoga suddenly without explaining hi8s absence.  The funeral will be held at Ladoga Monday… Frank Ashby, Detroit