WATSON, Columbus Franklin 1857 - 1912

WATSON, JERRELL, LYON, MCDOWELL, GRIFFITHS, SIEBERT

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/25/2021 at 20:22:48

"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Tuesday, May 28, 1912
Page 2, Column 3

ENDS LIFE WITH ACID
C. WATKINS (sic) Took Carbolic Acid Near His Home.

Friends all over Jefferson county were shocked last night when news reached this city that Columbus WATSON, a well known farmer had taken his own life by drinking carbolic acid at his home about nine miles southeast of this city. Mr. WATSON was about fifty-five years of age and his young wife and several grown children by a former marriage survive.

It is said that some family trouble arose yesterday morning following which Mrs. WATSON had gone to her father's home and the daughter went to a neighbor's home. About three o'clock WATSON was seen to stagger from the home and start toward the road. This was the last seen of him until he was found near the road by George McElwee, a huskster of Glasgow. WATSON was unconscious and physicians were summoned but he died about six o'clock.

WATSON had torn the telephone out of his home and the place bore other evidences of his condition before he drank the acid. A two ounce bottle which had contained the acid, was found in the home. Coroner Gaumer and Sheriff Shan Campbell were summoned and an inquest was held last night. The verdict of the jury was that he had come to his death by taking carbolic acid.

The funeral sevices will be held tomorrow afternoon at the home at two o'clock and the interrment will take place in the Wright cemetery.

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"The Fairfield Tribune"
Wednesday, May 29, 1912
Front Page, Column 7

COLUMBUS F. WATSON GOES ACID ROUTE.
PROMINENT FARMER TAKES LIFE ON MONDAY.
Daughter Saw Him Lying in Road and Feared to go to Him--Was Well Off--Family Trouble Cause of Act.

C. F. WATSON, residing in Cedar township near Glasgow, committed suicide on Monday afternoon by drinking carbolic acid. He lay in the road in front of his house in sight of his daughter, who was at the W. S. Smith home near by for two hours, before his condition was known. As nearly as could be learned he took the acid at about three o'clock and died at 7 p.m.

WATSON had been addicted to the use of liquor, and family trouble, resulting from his habit, is supposed to have caused him to kill himself. Mrs. WATSON, who was his fourth wife, left him Monday to return to the home of her father, Samuel JERALD (sic - JERRELL), residing 1½ miles west of Glasgow. There are two children, Miss Elsie, aged 17 years, child of the former wife, who had gone to the Smith home when her step-mother left, and Ralph, 2 years of age, who was with Mrs. WATSON.

Shortly after three o'clock in the afternoon, Elsie, who had been watching for signs of her father, saw him stumble out into the road in front of the house and lie or fall down. She was afraid to approach, and WATSON's habits were so well known that for a time it was believed he had drunk too much. After he had lain there for two hours, however, Mrs. Smith began to suspect that there was something more serious the matter with him and communicated her belief to the daughter. About this time Geo. McElwee, driver of a huxter wagon, came along and seeing WATSON in the road got down to examine him. He lifted him up and began working over him, and Miss WATSON went over.

WATSON was still alive though unconscious and on the advice of McElwee the daughter hastened back to the Smith home and called Dr. Fordyce, who arrived just a few minutes before the man died.

Following his death, Coroner J. S. Gaumer and Sheriff Shan Campbell were notified and went out to the WATSON place, where an inquest was held. The jury composed of W. S. Smith, Oren Fry and Hubert Fry found deceased had come to his death as a result of drinking carbolic acid with suicidal intent.

WATSON was a prosperous farmer and is well known in the county. He owned 160 acres of land all clear and well stocked and had money. His present marriage was his fourth, three previous wives having died.

Funeral services will be held this afternoon at 2:00 o'clock, and interment will take place in the Wright cemetery.

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"Jefferson County Republican"
Friday, May 31, 1912
Front Page, Column 3

C. F. WATSON Commits Suicide.

Columbus WATSON, a well known Cedar township farmer committed suicide Monday by taking carbolic acid. He was a hard drinking man and had quarreled with his wife over this. His wife had gone home to her folks and a daughter was at a neighbor's. Mr. WATSON was about fifty years of age and is survived by a young wife a son and a daughter. He had been married four times. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon and interment made in the Wright Cemetery.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Columbus' wives were:
1)Ida LYON, 1856-1884, married 1878
2)Elizabeth J. McDOWELL, 1852-1893, married 1885
3)Sarah Violet GRIFFITHS, 1862 - 1905, married 1894
4)Bertha Mae JERRELL, 1889 - 1986, married 1908, subsequently married to Joseph SIEBERT