Bayless, John Rueben 1868 - 1923

BAYLESS, VAN PELT, STORBECK, LANG

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 12/19/2021 at 12:32:03

Elkader Register, Thur., 22 Mar. 1923.

Last Saturday morning our community received the news with surprise and sorrow that John R. Bayless had ended his life by his own hand.

Friday evening Mr. Bayless went home from the Poull & Bink store, where he was employed, apparently in his usual cheerful mood. Saturday morning Mrs. Bayless arose as usual and went down stairs to prepare breakfast. When breakfast was ready she called to Mr. Bayless and received no reply. She then went upstairs and Mr. Bayless' body was found on the floor of a spare room with a bullet wound through his head and his revolver lying by his side.

Justice of the Peace Henry Koehn was authorized by Coroner Beerman to hold an inquest and John Stoops, Thos. Kilfoil and Charles Ihde were empaneled as a jury. Their verdict was that Mr. Bayless had died by his own hand. No motive is known for his act, but it is generally believed that it occurred as a result of temporary insanity.

John Rueben Bayless was the third son of the late Senator F. D. Bayless and Mrs. Harriet Bayless and was born November 9th, 1868, at Elkader, Iowa. He had reached the age of 54 years, 6 months and 8 days at the time of his death.

He was united in marriage with Sarah Augusta Van Pelt at Waukon, Iowa, August 17, 1892. He and his brother Charles conducted a drug store at Waukon for a few years. In 1895 Mr. and Mrs. Bayless moved to Elkader and Mr. Bayless entered a partnership with C. C. Oehring in the drug business.

Mr. and Mrs. Bayless adopted three girls, Marguerite, Winifred and Ruth. Winifred dying in infancy. His wife died September 7, 1912.

A number of years ago Mr. Bayless retired from the drug business and assisted with the farm work at the home of his son-in-law, Wm. Storbeck. A few years later he was connected with the management of Hotel Bayless and at the time of his death was employed in the grocery department at Poull & Bink's.

On October 26, 1922, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Florence Lang of this place.

He is survived by his wife, his aged mother, one brother, Fred, two children, Marguerite, now Mrs. Wm. Storbeck, and Ruth at home, two step-daughters, Marie and Goldie May Lang, also two grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock at the late home and 2:00 o'clock at the Congregational church, conducted by Rev. Warner. The M.W.A. of whom the deceased was a member attended services in a body and had charge of the services at the cemetery.

Those who knew him best know that it would be difficult to find a person with a kindlier disposition than Mr. Bayless; always cheerful, always ready to accommodate a friend. We doubt if he ever had an enemy in the world except himself; strictly honest and honorable in all his dealings he was liked and trusted by all who knew him.