John Work

WORK, FELKNER

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 7/12/2018 at 09:49:00

25 January 1894 - West Branch Times

John Work, a well known dealer in grain and stock in Downey, hanged himself last Friday morning in one of his stables. He arose at 5 o'clock, apparently in usual health, and went out ostensibly to feed his stock. His daughter, Miss Ida, prepared breakfast and as her father did not come in for his meal she went out to seek him; hearing the dog making a noise in the stable she opened the door and the terrible sight met her gaze, her father suspended by a rope from a beam above. She called for help and a man from the elevator came to her assistance. This was about 7:30 o'clock, they cut the rope and let him down, but life was entirely extinct. He had taken a rope from the house, tied the two ends together, looping it over the beam and again around his neck, he leaped from the top of a manger and died from strangulation.

He was 72 years of age and a native of Vermont, but had been in Iowa some forty years. His wife died several years ago, he leaves two daughters, one was his housekeeper and the other Mrs. J. W. Felkner. No particular cause is assigned for the act, he was considered wealthy, but had recently lost some money in board of trade speculation. The funeral was held Sunday at 11 a.m. under the auspices of the Masonic order, Rev. Mr. Sparks delivered the funeral sermon. A very large concourse of neighbors and friends accompanied the remains to its last resting place.