George Mackenzie Stanton 1855-1922

STANTON, UMBREIT, DODGE, TALBOTT

Posted By: Georgea Clinton (email)
Date: 5/8/2011 at 07:44:01

Sept 7, 1922 - Carroll Times - George M. Stanton, 67 years old, prominent lumber broker of this city and a resident of Carroll since 1876, placed the muzzle of a new .32 caliber automatic pistol to his forehead Tuesday afternoon in his office on the second floor of the Masonic building, and a pull of the trigger sent a steel-jacketed bullet crashing through his frontal bone and into his brain. Death was practically instantaneous. He crumpled forward in his office chair, his suicide weapon clutched firmly in his hand and his head resting upon his desk. There his lifeless body was found a few minutes later by Herbert J. Kempker, who has offices on the same floor of the Masonic building.

No tragedy in this city ever caused more of a profound sensation than this, the suicide of a man who had been for more than two score years actively identified with the business interests, the growth and the progress of Carroll. It is believed that failing health and worry over business losses prompted this veteran businessman to take his own life. He left no message to his wife or any other person, yet it is known that he must have been planning his own death for several days.

Mr. Stanton dismissed his stenographer and private secretary, Mrs. Frank Metz, shortly after 2 o'clock. Business had been "slow" in Mr. Stanton's line for many weeks, and Mrs. Metz frequently was dismissed for half a day, so she attached no importance to his remark that she might as well spend the afternoon at home. Mr. Stanton went to the post office, stopping to talk for a few minutes with acquaintances on the street and returned to his office.

He was later observed walking about his office, apparently engrossed in study. About 3:40 o'clock Mr. Kempker, who was conversing with an acquaintance in his office 30 feet from the door to Mr. Stanton's office, heard a muffled report, but did not recognize it as a pistol shot. Ben Paige, janitor in the Masonic building, was in the Commercial club rooms on the same floor and also heard the report of a gun. He went to the office of Harper & Son to investigate, but could find nothing wrong.

About five minutes after the shot was heard Miss Annabel Seller, stenographer for Mr. Kempker, passed the Stanton office, glanced through the open door and saw Mr. Stanton's body lying across his desk. Miss Seller called Mr. Kempker and he entered the room while she telephoned for a physician. Mr. Kempker at once notified Dr. F.V. Hibbs, county coroner.

Dr. Hibbs found the suicide victim sitting in an office chair in front of a flat top desk. His head had dropped forward upon the desk and his right hand clutched in a death grip the gun with which he "ended it all." Mr. Stanton still wore his glasses, his clothing was not disarranged, on his desk was an orderly stack of letters and papers, while above the desk the framed portraits, of General Pershing and Presidents Washington, Lincoln and Wilson, looked down upon the gruesome scene. Dr. Hibbs believed an inquest was unnecessary. Relatives concurred in this belief, and the coroner simply made a record of his findings and a statement to the effect that George M. Stanton had taken his own life.

Evidently Mr. Stanton carefully planned each detail of the suicide. A few weeks ago his brother-in-law and his sister, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Umbreit, of Milwaukee, Wis., stopped off in Carroll enroute to the western coast, and Mr. Stanton urged them to stop again on their homeward trip. He gave no reason except that he wanted to visit with them, but Mr. Umbreit, who is a practicing attorney, was impressed with his urgent request, and perhaps sensed a meaning deeper than appeared on the surface of the invitation. Mr. and Mrs. Umbreit returned to Carroll from Tacoma, Wash., arriving here last Thursday and expected to continue their journey to Milwaukee Tuesday night.

Several days ago Mr. Stanton went to the Carroll hardware store and carefully inspected a new automatic pistol, a German made weapon of the Origle's patent type. He did not purchase the gun at that time, stating that it was too large and heavy. Later he returned and said he had decided to take it. To Mr. Kempker he declared that he had bought a new gun and intended to kill a big black cat that had been "hanging around" his house.

It is now believed that the urgent invitation to Mr. Stanton's brother-in-law, in whom he had a great deal of confidence, his purchase of an automatic pistol, the dismissal for the afternoon of his secretary, the selection of a time when Mr. Kempker would be in his office and just prior to the departure of Mr. Stanton's brother-in-law and sister for their home were all a part of a well laid plan. Mr. Stanton left the door to his office open, evidently believing that Mr. Kempker would hear the shot and would make an investigation.

Mr. Stanton was born in Freeport, Illinois, in May, 1855, and received his education in the Freeport schools, graduating from high school in that city. He and his brother, Louis Stanton, first came to Carroll in 1876. His father, a civil engineer, died in 1883, and Mr. Stanton and his brother induced their mother, brother and three sisters to move to Carroll. Mr. Stanton's mother died in 1888, and shortly after her death he went to Tacoma, Wash., where he entered the real estate business, prospering for a time and eventually meeting financial reverses and returning to Carroll.

Upon returning to Carroll about 1894, he entered in business as a lumber broker and coal dealer. He was sucessful in business for many years and only in the last few years did he feel the pinch of misfortune. Still he was optimistic, cheerful, and ever hopeful. Despite constant business losses and fighting manfully against the general business depression, he kept what most people call "a stiff upper lip" - apparantly he was never discouraged nor despondant.

During the World War it was George M Stanton who led most of the many relief organizations and he was tireless when there was work to be done for humanity or for his own beloved land. His untiring efforts were largely responsible for the success of the Belgian relief drive, the drive for the French war orphans, and many other war time benevolent enterprises.

Mr Stanton suffered a light attack of pneumonia last December and his health was poor all during the winter months. In May he underwent a sinus operation and feared he might have to undergo a second operation. It is believed that the gradual undermining of his health was quite largely responsible for his suicide. He carried life insurance to the amount of $8,000.

Mr Stanton and Miss Mina Talbott were united in marriage in Carroll about 20 years ago. There were no children.

Besides his widow, he is survived by one brother and three sisters: W. Stanton, of Tacoma; Mrs. A.C. Umbreit, of Milwaukee; Mrs. C.A. Dodge, of Los Angeles; and Miss Jean Stanton, of Milwaukee.

Services will be from the home, 1115 North Adams street, Rev H.S. Baumgardner and Rev. F.G. Codd will officiate. Interment will be in the city cemetery.