Mr. Phillip Sherman died 1901

SHERMAN, HUDEL, WEBBER, OCONNOR, BENNETT, FISCHER, FITZPATRICK, BLONDIN

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 1/10/2017 at 19:18:30

Dubuque Daily Herald, September 6, 1901

Missing

Mr. Phillip Sherman, 77 years old, left home Monday and has not been seen since. Anyone seeing him please notify Jacob Sherman.

At noon today his son Jacob went into the stable and as soon as he entered the door he became aware of an unnatural odor which came down through the opening leading to the loft. He climbed the later and the first thing that met his eyes was the body hanging in the corner of the loft by a rope that was attached to a rafter and fastened around the neck of the old man. His feet were about six inches from the floor and his legs were separated by a chair on which the suicide stood when he prepared to take his life. After he had everything in readiness, the suicide stepped from the chair and let the entire weight of the body rest on the rope that encircled his neck. The body hung in a dark corner of the loft, and it is due to the position that it occupied that it was not discovered sooner, at the old gentlemen’s son had climbed to the top of the ladder several times during the past few days and looked around the loft, but owing to the darkness was unable to see the body hanging in the corner. Today, however, the strong order he discovered upon entering the barn convinced him something was wrong and upon making a close search he found the remains.

Jacob Sherman, the dead man’s son, stated that he could not account for his father’s actions in committing suicide. The old gentlemen always appeared to be happy and contented and made a practice of helping his son about the store as much as he could. Several neighbors who were also well acquainted with the old gentlemen, are at a loss to account for the suicide. They all say that he never showed any sign of being demented, but the contrary, appeared to be in excellent health for one his age.

Phillip Sherman had been a resident of Dubuque for the last three years, during which time he made his home with his son Jacob. Deceased is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Rose Webber, Mrs. Mary Hudel, and Mrs. O’Connor of Minneapolis, with whom he formerly resided, and three sons, Jacob of this city, Charles and James whose place of residence is not known.

Coroner Bennett took charge of the remains shortly after they were found and impaneled a jury composed of Eldon Fischer, John Fitzpatrick, and Wm. Blondin, who will hold an inquest.

The remains were interred at Linwood this afternoon.