Anna Bertha Powell Waugh (1876 - 1925)

WAUGH, POWELL, BLACK, MONGAR, LUKENBILL, BARNES

Posted By: Karen Brewer (email)
Date: 3/6/2020 at 14:52:16

The Osceola Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa
June 11, 1925, Page 1

LIBERTY TWP.
HOME SCENE OF
TRAGEDY FRIDAY

Mrs. Anna B. Waugh Takes Life by
Hanging - Had Been in Failing
Mental and Physical Health

LIFELESS BODY FOUND IN BARN

Despondency and Ill Health Thought
to Have Been Cause of Deed.
Body Was Found by
Neighbors.

Mrs. Anna B. Waugh, well known Liberty township woman, ended her life by hanging Friday afternoon between 1:00 and 3:00 o'clock. The lifeless body was found by neighbors who responded to an alarm sent out when a daughter found a note left in the house.

At noon Friday Mrs. Waugh seemed to be in good spirits and Lewis Waugh, the husband, went to the field as usual. Roy, a son, and his sister, Geneva, went gooseberring and Mrs. Waugh was left alone about 1:00 o'clock. The daughter, who is fifteen years of age, returned about three o'clock but her brother did not come at that time. When she entered the house she did not find her mother and after a few minutes discovered a note that she had left. A hurried reading of the letter showed what was intended and she called the Wm. Marquis home. In a short time a number of neighbors had gathered at the farm and a search had beguin. Two of those who responded to the call, entered the scale house and saw the lifeless body hanging from the rafters. It was hurriedly cut down but life was extinct. She had climbed the crib-like partition and fastened one end of a halter rope to a rafter, the other about her neck and loosened her hold on the boards.

Mrs. Waugh had been in failing mental and physical health for some time. Less than a year ago she was released from the hospital and it was thought that she was on the road to recovery. An attempt to end her life at another time failed.

The unfortunate woman was 49 years old and is survived by her husband and a number of children. Funeral services were held at Woodburn Sunday morning at 10 o'clock and burial was made at Ottawa cemetery.

As soon as the tragedy was discovered coroner Reinhart was called and made a hurried trip to the Waugh home. After examining the evidence in the case he decided that it was a plain case of suicide and that an inquest was not necessary.

Anna Bertha Powell was born in Clarke county February 20, 1876, and departed this life June 5, 1925, at her home near Woodburn, aged 49 years, 3 months and 15 days. She was married to Lewis A. Waugh February 19, 1896, and has resided in Clarke county all her life. To this union were born eight children, six boys and two girls - Herbert, Lloyd L., Roy F., Herman St. Clair, Wayne A., Wade E., Geneva A., and Juanita, all of Woodburn. Herbert and Juanita died in infancy. She is also survived by her mother, Mrs. M. J. Powell, of Osceola; three brothers, James, William, Charlie St. Clair, and Bert Eugene of Woodburn; three sisters, Lottie M. Black, Hattie F. Mongar of Osceola, and Alma B. Lukenbill of Des Moines, and on half sister, Mrs. Adellia Barnes of Nebraska. Her father and three brothers preceded her in death. She united with the Christian Union church at Bethel Chapel in 1920. Her life was a benediction to those among whom she lived. She has gone to her reward and her children rise up and call her blessed. Weep not that her toils are over. Weep not that her race is run. God grant we may rest so calmly when our work like her's is done. Till then we yield with gladness our mother to Him to keep, and rejoice in the sweet assurance He giveth his loved ones sleep.

Funeral services were held Sunday, June 7, at the M. E. church conducted by M. S. Clark at Woodburn, and interment made in Ottawa cemetery.
Transcribed as published by Karen Brewer.