Hunter, Hamilton 1830 - 1873

HUNTER

Posted By: Janice Sowers (email)
Date: 12/5/2004 at 14:49:20

TIMES February 27, 1873 P3 C4

SUICIDE--Hamilton Hunter, a resident of Albion township, committed suicide on Sunday last by taking strychnine. We have not learned the particulars, further than that the deceased was much depressed on account of the hopeless illness of a son, and frequently expressed himself as not wishing to live should his son not recover.

He purchased the strychnine at Granger or Florenceville. For several days before his death, he acted ???? (can not read). On the day of his death he went in the pantry. His wife followed him to see what he was doing. He then went out and in a short time went upstairs, and came down in a few minutes complaining of feeling very sick. On being asked what was the matter, he replied that he "guessed something he had in his pocket was what was the matter." Upon searching his pocket a paper of strychnine was found. In about twenty minutes thereafter he was dead.

Mr. Hunter was an old settler in the county and so far as we knew was highly esteemed by his neighbors.

Another obituary:

Source: Iowa Plain Dealer February 28, 1873, Page 3

SUICIDE – Mr. Hamilton Hunter an old settler in Albion township in this county commited suicide on Sunday, of this week by taking Strychnine. The fact that he had taken the fatal potion, we understand, was discovered before his death, but too late to obtain relief. He died surrounded by his wife, and children, near friends and relatives residing in the vicinity. It is reported with what degree of truth we are unable to say that he attributed as the cause “that whiskey had used him up.” If so, it is another murder at the door of the respectable assassins of the saloon; and if he did not make the remark, we fear it might have been truthfully made. The truth is there is scarcely a murder or a suicide in the land that would have occurred but for the use of whiskey. And yet men in the trade sometimes assume respectability.

Transcribed from a newspaper clipping submitted by Janice Sowers.

Transcriber's Note: Mr. Hunter was born in 1830 and died February 23, 1873. He is buried in Albion Cemetery.

Albion Township Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen