Owen H. Stevens 1866-1893

STEVENS

Posted By: Cyndi Vertrees (email)
Date: 11/6/2011 at 09:08:08

Owen H. Stevens
(1866 - Dec 5, 1893)

Lake City Graphic, Lake City, Calhoun Co. Iowa
Thurs., Dec. 7, 1893

O. H. Stevens, a brakeman on the C. and N. W., committed suicide by hanging himself to the bedpost Tuesday morning. He was formerly a citizen of Sigourney, Iowa, and came to Lake City about four weeks ago. Three weeks ago last Friday he went to the home of R. W. Pangborn, and asked to be taken in to board, and for the reason that Mr. Pangborn and he had passed through a wreck together he was received. The facts developed at the inquest held by coronor Townsend, of Lohrville, were substantially (sic) as follows: Mr. Pangborn being away from home on his run, Mrs. Pagborn (sic) spent the night at the home of her parents. Returning home about 9 o’clock, a. m. Tuesday morning, she saw Stevens sitting on the floor near the bed, but took no special notice of him. She shortly returned to her father’s home on an errand, returning about 10 o’clock. Stevens was still sitting as before, and this time she spoke to him. He gave no answer and she again called him and receiving no response became alarmed, and went around the house and called Mrs. Mitchell, who occupies the same residence. The two ladies went together to awaken him, as they supposed him sleeping, but without avail. Being now seriously alarmed the two ladies at once summoned assistance, and Mrs. Copic and Mrs. Quiggle hastened in a rope was discovered around his neck. A. H. Hutchinson was immediately notified and came in haste to release the body. Life was extinct, and though medical assistance was called nothing could be done. Stevens being out of money, out of employment, and in a serious state of health and become despondent, several times threatening his life, but it was not accepted as meaning anything. But life to him became unbearable, and between 9 and 10 o’clock on Tuesday morning he took his own life by tying a rope around his neck and to the bedpost, deliberately choking himself to death. The deceased was a member of C. H. Barnum lodge, Brotherhood of Railway trainmen, and by them his body was looked after. A telegram was sent to his father, who lives at Sigourney.

The sister of the deceased accompanied by F. E. Baker, of the Sigourney Review, arrived Wednesday, and funeral services were held in the M. E. church this morning conducted by Rev. C. B. Winter, and under the auspicies of the B. or R. T.