Shaw, Harry E. – 1879-1932

CHARITON, ORCUTT, SHAW WHEAT

Posted By: Donna Sloan Rempp
Date: 8/26/2016 at 05:28:18

Harry E. Shaw, Monroe, Takes Own Life Today
Hangs Self By Rope in Rear of Produce Station; Neck Broken in Fall
Financial Worries Given as Cause of Act; is Found at 7:45 this Morning, Hanging at End of Rope
Monroe, Feb. 1 – Special to The Daily News – Harry E. Shaw, produce dealer here for the past 15 years and secretary and treasurer of the Monroe Commercial club, committed suicide early this morning by hanging himself by a rope tied to a cross-piece in the rear of his product shop.
Shaw was about 56 or 57 years old. Financial worries were believed to have been the cause of the act.
No inquest will be held, it was announced today by County Coroner James J. Engle.
Survivors
He is survived by his widow; three children, William, a graduate of Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Ia., and now teaching in the east, Robert, who is studying medicine at the state University of Iowa at Iowa City and a daughter, Eleanor, a senior at Cornell College; a brother, Mark Shaw of Kellogg; a sister, Mrs. George Orcutt of Monroe and a brother, Earl, teaching in the Virgin Islands. Mr. Shaw also is a graduate of Cornell College.
The body was found at 7:45 o’clock this morning by G. E. Van Houweling of Monroe, who keeps his automobile in the rear of the Shaw produce shop, Mr. Van Houweling finding the body hanging at the end of the rope when he came to get his car. The body was taken to the Crumpacker Funeral parlors.
When found, Mr. Shaw was wearing a suit, overcoat and cap, holding a handkerchief in his right hand, evidently having gone direct from his home in Monroe, where he lives alone, to his produce station and taking his own life shortly before Mr. Van Houweling arrived, as the body was still warm when it was found.
To perform the deed, Mr. Shaw had moved three cars in the rear of the station out of the way, had climbed up a ladder, tied the rope to the cross-piece and then dropped, breaking his neck in the fall. His feet were touching the floor when he was found.
Leaves Two Letters
Two letters were found in the pocket of his overcoat, one being addressed to his brother, Mark, and the other to his widow. The letter to his brother contained business information, while the contents of that to his widow were not divulged.
Mr. Shaw was born and raised in Monroe, his father being one of the pioneer physicians of the vicinity. He was a member of the Methodist church of Monroe and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday School. No funeral services have been announced.
Source: Newton Daily News; 01 February 1932

H. E. Shaw Funeral held Wednesday
Had Been Prominent in Business and Social Life of Monroe For Many Years
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 1 o’clock for Harry E. Shaw, prominent Monroe businessman, who ended his life Monday morning.
Brief services were held at the resident of his mother, Mrs. Flora S. Shaw, who preceded him in death a few weeks ago. The services were in charge of Dr. A. W. Harned, retired Methodist-Episcopal minister of Des Moines, and former pastor of the deceased, at the Capitol Park Methodist church in Des Moines. He was assisted by the Rev. O. S. Hesseltine, pastor of the Monroe Methodist-Episcopal church.
Dr. Harned took his text from Paul’s Letter to the Romans, the ninth chapter, reading from the 14th to the 16th verse: “What Shall We Say Then-“.
Two piano selections were given by Mrs. Ralph Gloyd.
Those in charge of the flowers were Mrs. Elton Mahon, Mrs. G. E. Van Houweling, Mrs. James Wolcott and Mrs. Lou Fessler.
The pallbearers were Dr. L. D. Anderson, Ulrie Clevenger, Laurel Buckley, John Murray, Horace Cash and Joe Long. Interment was made in the Monroe cemetery.
At the services, prayer was said by Rev. Hesseltine and the following obituary was read by Dr. Harned:
Harry E. Shaw was born in Monroe, Iowa, on November 7, 1879, being the eldest son of William H. and Flora S. Shaw, and died February 1, 1932, being 52 years, 2 months and 24 days old.
The greater part of his life was spent in the town of his birth.
Harry received his early education in our home schools and afterward attended Cornell College, from which he was graduated in 1906.
He was married to Bessie E. Wheat, June 26, 1907. To this union three children were born, William Orr, Robert Ellsworth and Mary Eleanor.
After his marriage he was employed for about ten years by the Avery Implement Co., living in Des Moines, Iowa, and afterward coming back to Monroe in 1917 and taking over the produce business of his brother Earl B. Shaw, who enlisted in the world war.
He proved himself a worthy citizen, being chosen as mayor of our town, and served in many other important positions.
He became a member of the M. E. church in his youth and was regarded as one of the leaders of that church, having served as superintendent of the Sunday school many years and acting on the various boards and committees from time to time, giving freely of his time to the church of his choice. He was also a Mason, being a member of Fairview lodge No. 194.
He leaves to mourn his death his wife, Bessie E. Shaw, and their three children; two brothers, Mark I. Shaw, of Kellogg, Iowa and Earl B. Shaw, now in Porto Rico, and one sister, Mrs. Lolo Orcutt, of Monroe, and unnumbered friends and neighbors, who join the family in their great bereavement.
Mr. Shaw was secretary of the Monroe Chamber of commerce.
Among those from out of town who attended the funeral were the wife, who has been living at Mount Vernon, while her daughter Eleanor was finishing Cornell College; William, eldest son, who is assistant professor at Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind.; Robert, who is studying medicine at Iowa City; Benjamin Wheat, of Albany, N.Y., brother of Mrs. Shaw; Mrs. Grace Chariton, of Des Moines, a niece; William Shaw, of Newton; Mark I. Shaw, of Kellogg, brother of the deceased; Mrs. Mark Shaw, Flora Thane Shaw, of Iowa Falls; Joyce and Dean Shaw of Kellogg; also several from the Capitol Park church in Des Moines.
It is understood that Mr. Shaw had been in ill health for the past several weeks.
Source: Newspaper Unknown; __ February 1932