Squires, Samuel 1840-1911
SQUIRES, MITCHELL, FRIELINGER, RAMIEL, HAINES
Posted By: Linda Linn (email)
Date: 1/8/2012 at 12:26:27
Algona Upper DesMoines
2-1-1911
Sam Squire’s Tragic Death
Accidently Shoots Himself While In-
toxicated at His Home In
Sherman TownshipVeteran Hunter and Trapper’s Life
Goes Out After Quarreling with
His Wife and Fourishing GunSam Squires, character in Algona and vicinity, met instant death last Thursday evening from a shot-gun in his own hands, at his home in Sherman township. Sam and his fifteen year old grandson, Charlie Haines, had been in Algona all day, and Sam had been drinking and was quarrelsome. On the way home he abused the boy, and when he reached home commenced quarreling with his wife, while the young man was putting the team in the barn.
Mrs. Squires in an attempt to pacify her husband, hurried up supper and the meal was eaten amidst bickerings. Several times during the evening Sam made the remark that "There will be someone dead around here before long." He struck his wife a number of times before supper and after the meal he picked up an old "pump" shotgun which was standing in the room and flourished it around, telling what he would do.
Suddenly there was a deafening report and poor Sam crumbled and sank to the floor a shapeless mass of inanimate clay, while his brains and blood bespattered the wall and the crimson flood spread over the floor. When Mrs. Squires recovered from the shock, she saw through the haze of smoke the still form of Sam in the corner and her young grandson, sitting at the table crying. Realizing finally that the tragedy had taken place, she sent the boy to the nearest neighbor, Theo. Carrell, who phoned to Algona for the Coroner.
Coroner Reaser, Sheriff Brunson, and Dr. Kenefick went down to the place, which is near St. Joe, ten miles straight south of Algona. It was thought best to empanel a coroner’s jury, which was done on Friday, the Coroner calling to his aid E. E. Conner, Frank Clarke and Will Ladendorff. After a thorough investigation the verdict was "accidental shooting."
The gun was an old repeating shotgun, which had at one time belonging to Theo. Carrell, and the latter testified that the lock was defective and the gun liable to be discharged easily. Mr. Squires had the gun in his left hand and the charge entered the left side of his forehead carrying away most of that part of the head. It was a ghastly, and of course instantly fatal wound.
The Squires family of children are all married and have homes of their own. John lives in Garfield township, Will and Mrs. Mitchell in South Dakota, Mrs. Chas. Frielinger (Margaret) near St. Joe, and Mrs. Ramiel in Livermore. The only member of the Squires household at the time of the tragedy was the 15 year old grandson, Charlie Haines, a son of Mrs. Mitchell by a former marriage. The Squires had been renters on a place belonging to Barney Devine for several years, and it was there that the tragedy occurred. The funeral was held Sunday and the burial was at Livermore.
Sam Squires was a native of Ohio, and came to this county upwards of forty years ago. He was a great lover of hunting and spent a good share of his time with dog and gun. It was Sam that always showed up with the first wild ducks and geese in spring and fall. His love of hunting came before everything else and he never acquired any property but a few head of stock, and a large number of dogs. He is said to have been about seventy years of age.
Ordinarily of a cheerful easygoing disposition, Sam of late years allowed liquor to poison his good nature and become quarrelsome and hard to get along with. However, his love of the open, free life with dog and gun were his distinguishing traits, and there are many who will join in the wish that his spirit may find peace in the happy hunting grounds of the hereafter.
[Mr. Squires served in the Civil War in Co I, 18th Iowa Infantry during the Civil War.]
Gravestone Photo
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