Robbins, Joseph E. 1852-1902
ROBBINS
Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 9/14/2013 at 00:31:40
Elgin Echo, Thursday, 11 September 1902.
Emery Robbins committed suicide by blowing the front part of his head off with a gun at his home between Osborne and Mederville, Sept. 2. Insanity is supposed to be the cause of his rash act, caused by worry over the destruction of his crops by the floods. Deceased was about fifty years of age.
Note: Submitter is not related and has no further information.
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Added by Joy Moore 1/18/2020:
Source: Decorah Republican Sept. 11, 1902 Page 1 Col 6
Farmer Blows his Head Off
Elkader. Sept 4.—E. N. Robbins, a farmer living near Mederville, Clayton county, committed suicide Tuesday morning by shooting himself with a shot-gun, the charge completely removing the head from the body. The rash deed was performed at 5 a. m. just after arising. He was a man of 50 years of age, and had been afflicted with a nervous trouble for which he expected to come to Elkader Tuesday for treatment. Evidently his trouble brought on temporary insanity. He leaves a wife and one daughter.____________________
Added by Reid R. Johnson 3/26/2021:
Elkader Register, Thur., 04 Sept. 1902.
Death of J. Emery Robbins.
A sad case comes to us from Cox Creek twp., in which J. E. Robbins while temporary insane takes his own life. It appears that for some time past Mr. Robbins had been acting queerly and his family called in friends to watch him. Monday he was in Elkader consulting physicians as to his health and had made arrangements to come here for treatment.
Tuesday morning while getting ready to come to Elkader, he eluded his nephew and a Mr. Osborne who were watching him and went into the granary, where he had a gun secreted. Although the watcher was not twenty feet away Robbins got the gun and placing it to his chin fired the fatal shot.
Deceased was an industrious man and well thought of by his neighbors. It is believed that the loss of a portion of his crops by the high water this spring had unbalanced his mind, causing him to commit the fearful deed.
He leaves a wife and one daughter to mourn his untimely death. They have the sympathy of all in their great bereavement.
The funeral was held yesterday under the auspices of the M.W.A. Camp at Osborne, of which the unfortunate man was a member.
(Note: The IGPP shows a gravestone photo of Joseph E. Robbins, 02-28-1852 / 09-02-1902, buried in the Mederville cemetery. He is not shown on WPA records.)
Clayton Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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