Rev. D. E. Smith

SMITH

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 1/27/2008 at 13:03:27

Jackson Sentinel
August 29, 1895

A PREACHER GOES INSANE.

D. E. Smith, for nearly a year the pastor of the Congregational church at Sabula, went raving insane Monday afternoon. He is a young man of about 30 years and has a wife and three children.

It appears that from the time Mr. Smith came from Monticello, Minn., to assume this charge, there has been dissatisfaction expressed by members that has reached the pastor’s ears. It caused a ruction in the church and so depressed the young minister that a few days ago he threatened to take his life. Sunday last he was on hand to conduct morning services as usual, but did not deliver his sermon with the customary ease. It was learned, however, that he had come to church with a loaded revolver in his pocket with the intention of taking his life in the pulpit, but did not do it. He was taken ill thereafter and Monday afternoon became irrational and violent. He imagined that his enemies were fighting him and had struck him a blow on the back of the head, inflicting a wound.

It is now thought that the young pastor’s eccentricities heretofore, have been mere manifestations of insanity, and much sympathy is felt for him and his family.