Birchard, Eugene Joseph – 1870- 1927

BIRCHARD, PARSON, ROWLAND, WRIGHT

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 5/27/2017 at 18:48:04

Ill Health Blamed for Suicide Today of Local Resident
E. J. Birchard Shoots Self Early This Morning; No Message is Found
Former County Treasurer was Life Long Resident of this Vicinity; No Arrangements for Funeral Have Been made
Continued brooding over ill health and the prospects of a rigorous physical examination within the next few days is believed to have been responsible for E. J. Birchard, life-long resident of Jasper county, taking his life early this morning at the jasper County Savings bank where he was employed.
No message of any kind was left by Mr. Birchard which might explain his action, and as far as could be learned today, he had intimated to no one that he had considered such a step. On the contrary, within the last few days he had made plans dealing with events several months in the future.
Mr. Birchard had entered the bank shortly before 7:30 o’clock this morning and at the time of his death he and Frank Woodrow, teller, were alone in the building. Mr. Woodrow was on the main floor of the bank and heard a noise which he described as similar to that of a book falling to the floor of the vault. He investigated and found Mr. Birchard lying upon the floor in a small room at the rear of the bank. A revolver belonging to the bank was lying beside him.
Physician is Summoned
A. E. Hindorff, cashier, entered the bank at this time and immediately summoned medical aid, but before a physician could arrive. Mr. Birchard had died. It was later found that a bullet from the heavy calibered pistol had passed through his heart.
Coroner Robert Cooper was called at once and the body removed to the Morgan funeral home. Late this afternoon no funeral arrangements had been made.
Eugene Joseph Birchard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Birchard, was born in Richland township, Jasper county, Aug. 10, 1870 and spent the early part of his life in the vicinity of Kellogg, where he attended school. After leaving school, he entered the employ of the Rock Island Railroad company and acted as brakeman for several years.
Manages Store in Killduff
He was married Oct. 10, 1891, to Miss Laura Parson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Parson of Kellogg, and shortly afterward took over the management of a store at Killduff for his brother-in-law, G. J. Wright. It was while he was living in Killduff that his only son, Carroll, was born.
Leaving the store at Killduff, Mr. Birchard became postmaster at Kellogg and held that position for 13 years, giving up this work when he became connected with the Kellogg Savings bank, where he was engaged for three years.
In 1916 he was elected county treasurer of Jasper county and served in this capacity for one and one-half term, resigning during his second term when his son Carroll took over the work. While in the office of the county treasurer, Mr. Birchard increased an already wide acquaintance with residents of the county and increased his circle of friends to include practically the entire population of the county.
When Mr. Birchard left the county treasurer’s office, he entered the Clark national bank as vice-president, which position he held until the consolidation of that institution with the Jasper County Savings bank in February 1926, when he entered the Jasper County bank as a teller.
Was Active Mason
While a resident of Kellogg, Mr. Birchard became a member of the Masonic order and remained an active member of the Kellogg lodge until after he moved to Newton when he transferred to the local lodge. During his residence in Kellogg he served as master of the lodge there for a number of years.
In his youth he became affiliated with the Christian church of Kellogg and retained his membership in that church during his entire life, altho during his residence in Newton he has attended the First Methodist Episcopal church.
Besides his widow and son, Mr. Birchard is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Elsie Wright of Newton and Mrs. C. W. Rowland of Grinnell. Two brothers, Clinton of Kellogg and Samuel of San Francisco, preceded him in death.
Source: Newton Daily News; Saturday, May 26, 1927