YOWELL, Moses R.

YOWELL, ENGELKE

Posted By: Cay Merryman
Date: 7/13/2008 at 10:02:22

The Tabor Beacon
Tabor, Iowa
4 December 1896

Yowell, Moses R. On the 30 day of Feb. 1896, the postmaster of Sidney disappeared from his office and home. An investigation of his accounts showed a shortage of nearly $700. This amount was due the government and he had not the funds with which to pay it. Last Friday, 2 months after his disappearance, the dead body of Yowell was found in the timber 1/2 mile NW of William Engelke's house in Sidney Twp. The body was removed to Sidney. A coroner's jury was empanelled. Verdict: cause of death unknown".

The body was in a remarkable state of preservation and was easily recognized, notwithstanding it had lain upon the ground for 2 months. The supposition is that death was caused by arsenic taken with suicidal intent, and the preservation and protection from animals and birds was due to the poison content in it.

Knights of Pythias had charge of the funeral. His daughter Imogene has been appointed postmaster in her father's place.

NOTE: (Sidney Cemetery Moses R. Yowell b. 1850 d. 1896)

NOTE: source: A few years ago Leland Smith of Tabor, Fremont County, Iowa, abstracted obituaries from the Tabor Beacon newspaper. Tabor is on the county line between Mills and Fremont County, therefore the paper printed obituaries from both counties. These were later microfilmed by the LDS Church on microfilm #1491976.