Submitted by: Dan Rich

Everett Guy Eberhart

Mar. 19, 1869 – Aug. 17, 1915

Mishawaka Enterprise
Friday, August 20, 1915

Mishawaka has never before been so profoundly shocked and dumbfounded as it was on Tuesday afternoon when the news spread rapidly throughout the city that E. G. Eberhart had committed suicide on the grave of his son in the city cemetery.

The report seemed beyond belief. He was the last man in the community of whom it could have been thought possible that such a deed would even have been dreamed of. No possible motive could be imagined. It is one of the strange tragedies and impenetrable mysteries of life that never can be solved by the human mind. All moralizing is futile in such a case. Sincere regret and sorrow only can be entertained under the sad circumstances.

The deed had been carefully and methodically planned and had doubtless been contemplated for some time, as frequent indefinite remarks recently made to near friends would now indicate. But up to the moment that Mr. Eberhart left the office of the Mishawaka Woolen Mfg. Co., of which he was vice president, on his way to the cemetery to carry out the rash resolve, such an idea was never for a moment entertained by any one in the office. What now is considered evidence of his intentions is shown by an inquiry as to the present whereabouts of several associate officials of the company who were away on vacations, stating that he "might go away" himself.

Before starting away, Mr. Eberhart arranged everything systematically on his desk. He left his watch and his keys, the latter all carefully labeled, and several addressed letters and packages for relatives.

Entering his runabout, he drove directly to the North Side Trust & Savings Co., of which he was the president, and deposited some money. From there he went directly to the cemetery and to the grave of his son, Harris H. Eberhart, whose sad and tragic death in an automobile accident six years previous had been such a terrible blow to the parents, and over which he had brooded constantly, and which is deemed to be the actuating cause for his final rash act.

After meditating nearly an hour at the grave, Mr. Eberhart carefully lay down on the spot, covered his face with a handkerchief, and with a heavy automatic revolver, fired two shots in rapid succession through his heart. Death was instantaneous. The shots were heard by J. A. Springer, a carpenter who was working nearby, but their significance was not then imagined. Shortly after, Mrs. Theresa Ruff, who was in the cemetery, came across the body. She ran to the fire station nearby and Dr. Dresch was summoned, who went with several firemen and others and viewed the body, but there was no need of earthly aid.

On the seat near the grave was a note in an envelope on which was written: "Call Fred Grimes at Woolen company office. Do not call house." Mr. Grimes is a favorite nephew.

The note contained no hint as to a reason for Mr. Eberhart's act, instructions only being given for the disposition of his body.

The verdict of Coroner T. J. Swantz Wednesday morning was "suicide in a state of mental aberration." "The act was probably due to the constant brooding over the death of his son." was the comment made by the coroner.

he accident which caused the death of his son at the untimely age of 17 years, will be recalled. It occurred at a railroad crossing near Hammond, Ind., July 24, 1909. Mr. Eberhart was in company with his son, and Richard Flagg, aged 15, of Hillsdale, Mich., and Arthur Carlson, a chauffeur. Mr. Eberhart on the previous day, had driven to Lake Forest, Ill., to attend a house party. It was while returning to Mishawaka that a heavy Pullman running at 70 miles per hour crashed into the Eberhart car, demolishing it, and killing Flagg and fatally injuring Harris Eberhart, who died in several hours. Mr. Eberhart and the chauffeur escaped by jumping, but the boys were in the back seat and could not get out, although every effort was made to open the doors. The chaffeur at the time was so overcome that he was about to kill himself when Mr. Eberhart prevented the act. The latter, who was slightly injured, always blamed himself to a certain extent for the terrible tragedy.

It is also thought that the tragic death of a second cousin, Donald Crawford, at Utica, N.Y., on Monday may have intensified the sorrow over his son's death. Mr. Crawford, who was a guest of Mr. Eberhart a year ago, was killed when he dived into an empty swimming pool of the Utica Y.M.C.A. Mr. Eberhart discussed the tragedy with his freinds Tuesday morning and in that connection referred despondently to the death of his son.

James C. Eberhart, a brother, died Feb. 3, 1915, and this added greatly to Mr. Eberhart's sorrow.

Everett Guy Eberhart was born in Mishawaka March 19, 1869, and was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Adolphus Eberhart. He received his education in the public schools and was graduated from the High school. He then entered the Mishawaka Woolen Mfg. Co.'s plant of which his father was one of the founders. A man of keen business judgement, he forged to the front very rapidly until he became vice president and general manager of the concern. On account of his business judgement he occupied positions of prominence and trust in various institutions in the country.

He was a well known banker and was president of the First Trust & Savings Co. in the same building and under same management of the First National bank in which he was a director. He founded the North Side Trust & Savings company of which he was president. He was also a director of the National City bank, Chicago. He was looking forward to the time when the Woolen Co. would employ 3,500 hands instead of 2,500 as is now the case.

Deeply religious and a life long member of the First Methodist Episcopal church he with his brothers, James C. Eberhart and Fred G. Eberhart, and his sister, Mrs. Flora Grimes, of Lincoln, Neb., erected the First Methodist Memorial church three years ago in memory of their parents. This is one of the finest churches in the middle west.

Mr. Eberhart among other prominent affairs with which he was identified, was a trustee of DePauw university at Greencastle, Ind., which he aided liberally in a financial way and with his sound council. His deeply religious principles led him to aid every good cause, and all his life he conscientiously devoted one tenth of his income each year to the Lord's work.

Mr. Eberhart, in memory of his son, erected a beautiful monument, a bird fountain, a head stone and seat on the Eberhart lot in the city cemetery. He visited the grave several times a week, remaining sometimes for hours. Flowers were kept almost constantly on the graves by Mr. and Mrs. Eberhart.

As another memorial for his mourned son, he established the Y.M.C.A. Camp Eberhart at Cory lake, Michigan, donating large sums of money for its maintenance. He was also a director in the Y.M.C.A.

He was the head of the International Sunday School Association, succeeding Fred B. Smith, and was one of the original committee of 79 men in the Men and Religion Forward movement. He was a national character in Methodist circles, attending the general conferences wherever held. He took interest in the church music and for many years was tenor in the choir. He also taught the Men's Bible class.

On Sunday morning and evening he sang in the Methodist Choir as usual; and in the Sunday school presented an unusually interesting lesson to his Bible class, which has an enrollment of 100. Monday night he attended a banquet at the Oliver hotel, South Bend, and his friends state that he was in his usual good spirits.

In the space permitted, it is impossible to mention all the good deeds of the deceased and his prominence in various directions at home and abroad. He was a man who will be greatly missed not only in Mishawaka but elsewhere. Peace be to his soul!

Mr. Eberhart leaves his wife formerly Miss Jennie Lynn Hurlbut, whom he married April 24, 1889; one daughter, Miss Myrna Lynn Eberhart, one brother, Fred G. Eberhart, of this city, and one sister, Mrs. Flora Grimes, of Lincoln, Neb.

The funeral will be held Saturday morning at 9:30 o'clock from the residence, 402 Lincoln Highway East. Services will be conducted at the house by Rev. Dr. Loren M. Edwards, pastor of the Methodist Memorial church, who has been away on a vacation, but who returned to the city on learning of the tragic death of Mr. Eberhart. The body may be viewed today from 3:30 to 8 p.m.

At a special meeting of the Business Men's association held Wednesday night it was decided to ask all the merchants to close their places of business during the hours of the funeral out of respect to Mr. Eberhart.

Fred G. Eberhart was enroute home from Boston, Mass., when the tragedy occurred and a telegram brought him back at once. Miss Myrna Eberhart, who has been in a camp in the Adirondacks, New York, will arrive tonight. Mrs. Grimes, the sister, arrived yesterday from Lincoln, Neb. E. J. W. Fink, who was in the St. Lawrence river region, and J. A. Scott, who was in Naugatuck, Conn., also hastened home for the obsequies.

Editor: Burial was in Mishawaka City Cemetery.