NOAH GREEN

GREEN, JOHNSON

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 8/12/2002 at 19:11:27

Before I transcribe this article, I want everyone to know that I am not trying to 'publicize' this tragic situation. I only share this in the hope that it will fill in some blanks for some of our Listers interested in the Green family.
Nancee
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Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, July 26, l923

NOAH GREEN, a young farmer probably thirty years old, committed suicide at his home just west of Lamoni last Friday. MR. GREEN it seems had been brooding over some troubles, and had threatened to kill himself.
Last Friday he renewed the threat and his wife becoming alarmed, went to the field to call their hired man to the house, and just as she returned to the house, a shot was heard and the lifeless body of MR. GREEN was found on the floor. His funeral was held at Lamoni, Sunday.

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Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, August 2, l923

One of the most sensational and tragic deaths which has ever saddened this community occurred Friday afternoon when NOAH GREEN, a young farmer of the Evergreen neighborhood, shot himself through the temple, death resulting in a very few minutes.

The trouble which caused MR. GREEN to take his life was of several months standing, dating back as far as January. He had become infatuated with a young girl, EDNA JOHNSON by name, who later was adopted by GREEN and his wife about three months ago. The infatuation grew and was embittered by jealousy, since the girl was keeping company with GREEN's brother, WILLARD.

Matters grew worse as the love entanglements between the girl and young GREEN progressed and NOAH made many threats, one being his own destruction should the girl leave the home with another man.

The past three weeks' events developed rapidly and on Friday afternoon, EDNA left the house with WILLARD GREEN, presumably intending to marry him. NOAH GREEN missed her, came to the house to enquire for her and finding her not there, he said: "I told her if she ever left with another man I'd blow my brains out and I'm going to do it." He grabbed a rifle and commanded his wife to get him some ammunition. She refused and struggled with him until her strength gave out. He also had a razor in his pocket which he said he intended to use in case of failure to find ammunition. In desperation, MRS. GREEN ran across the road to where Roy Dillon, Claud Rew and other men were working in a field but before they could get back he had found the ammunition and the awful deed was done.

His young son, GEORGE, was the first to reach the upstairs room where they had heard the shot and heard him fall (*can't read) the house, the mother and others whom she had summoned following.

MR. GREEN was but thirty-two years of age last December. He was born and reared in Decatur County, living at the place of birth in Grand River Township until ll years of age, moving from there to a farm near Terre Haute. He moved to the Roy Dillon farm in the Evergreen neighborhood where he resided at the time of his death, last March.

He was married January, l9l2. He leaves his wife and two children, GEORGE, aged ten and a little girl, MARJORIE LUCILLE, aged 6. Also mother, three brothers and five sisters. Funeral services were held from the home Sunday afternoon, in charge of Rev. Gray; interment in Rose Hill.

--Lamoni Chronicle.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
List Administrator; Decatur County, Iowa GenWeb
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
August ll, 2002