DEMING, Frank Yates 1862 - 1895

DEMING, DAVIS

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/14/2021 at 16:15:00

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, December 25, 1895
Page 3, Column 5

Death of Frank Y. DEMING.

A telegram was received in this city Thursday afternoon by James R. Speck which conveyed startling intelligence--the death of Frank Y. DEMING, a well known and popular traveling salesman, at Moulton. Later communications added to the grief of friends at home, for the unfortunate man had met death by his own hands.

Mr. DEMING had left his home in this city a few days previous, apparently in excellent health and spirits. He had made his usual visits to customers in portions of southern Iowa and northern Missouri, and until his arrival at Bloomfield Thursday morning nothing had occurred, even in the light of later events, which would indicate that he was suffering in mind or body, or had in contemplation any such act as caused his death. At that place, however, he engaged a room, contrary to his custom, and repeated visits which he made to it during his stay, together with the purchase of a thirty-two caliber, self-acting revolver, indicate that the presence of other parties in and near his quarters probably prevented him from committing the act there which more favorabe circumstances permitted at Moulton.

On his arrival at the latter place, about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, Mr. DEMING secured a room in the Hotel Dodge. A customer, Mr. S. C. Sloss, dropped in during the dinner hour and had a few moments' conversation, and DEMING then went to his room. He was called about 3 o'clock, in order that he might make an afternoon train, and a failure to respond to repeated raps on his door, caused the landlord to summon assistance and forcibly enter the apartment. Poor DEMING was found lying dead on the bed. Powder marks on his face and a pistol which lay but a few inches from his outstretched hand told the remainder of the story.

That he had made careful preparation for the event was very evident. He had placed two pillows next the wall and had lain down across the bed, with his feet resting on a chair. From the blackening of powder on his left hand it was very apparent that he had used that member with which to steady the weapon when it was placed against his right temple, and a bullet wound there indicated that death had come swiftly and painlessly. In the pockets of the dead man was found an envelope on the back of which these messages were written in a steady hand:

12-19-'95.

Goodbye, dear wife and family and friends. Am tired of life.

Pleas notify Chas. A. DAVIS, Fairfield, Iowa, and B. F. DEMING, No. 20 Hamilton ave., Chicago, Ill.

On another envelope was a memorandum of his cash account, showing that he had $156.50 in his possession, and precisely that amount was found. In a small blank book was written a complete inventory of his property, and in a larger one between $9,000 and $10,000 in notes, mrotgages and other papers was found. That same methodical exactness which was so characteristic of his life, those business methods which had made him so singularly successful in his chosen vocation, had been followed down to the very verge of the grave.

The circumstances surrounding Mr. DEMING's death were so clear that the authorities did not think an inquest necessary. The remains were taken charge of by an undertaker, and on the following day were brought to this city by Messrs. Sloss and Carr of Moulton, who had given the body of their dead friend every possible attention. A private funeral was held at the family residence Saturday afternoon, and the remains were then interred in the Evergreen cemetery.

Mr. DEMING was in the employ of John Alling & Co., wholesale dealers in hardware, 53 and 55 Lake street, Chicago, at the time of his death. He had entered their store as office boy nearly twenty years ago, and for several years past had been their best and msot trusted salesman. His residence in this city dated back to September, 1891, when he came here with his young wife and erected a handsome and comfortable home. His age was thirty-four years. He was a handsome, bright, intelligent fellow, of pleasing address and cheerful manner. He had prospered in financial and commercial ventures, and his domestic life was one of unusual happiness. But Frank DEMING was industrious, energetic, ambitious. His life on the road was one of continuous and most exhausting labor. Day and night were alike to him. He knew no pleasure as long as business duty might call him. Perhaps he feared that he could stand the intense strain no longer, that he was distressed because his sales in a year of "hard times" like the past did not equal those of more prosperous seasons. And, rather then confide his perplexities to those who might cheer and comfort him and give him new hope and fresh courage, in a moment of mental weakness, he snapped the slender cord which tied him to this life and entered the Great Beyond.

~~~~

"The Fairfield Tribune"
Wednesday, December 25, 1895
Page 7, Columns 3 and 4

DIED BY HIS OWN HAND.

Frank Y. DEMING, of this City, Shoots and Kills Himself at Moulton, Iowa, Last Thursday.

The shocking news was received in this city last Thursday afternoon in a dispatch from Mr. S. C. Schloss of Moulton, Iowa, to Mr. J. R. Speck, of this city, that Frank Y. DEMING, a well known traveling man residing in this city, had shot and killed himself there that afternoon (note: in Appanoose Co., IA). The news was of so startling a nature that the correctness of it was for some time doubted, and when at last the fact of death was no longer to be questioned, there was much speculation as to whether the shooting had been accidental or premeditated. Not until the arrival of the corpse about noon Friday, accompanied by Mr. Schloss and Mr. Carr, train dispatcher of the C. B. & K. C., were the facts regarding the sad affair fully known. Mr. DEMING had deliberately taken his own life. He was not in the habit of carrying a revolver, but at Bloomfield on the day previous he had purchased a 38 calibre revolver, and it was recalled afterwards that he had gone to his room a number of times as though contemplating the step afterward taken, yet not exciting special notice. He had had a hard ride the night before and was doubtless somewhat worn out. Mr. DEMING got into Moulton a little after eleven o'clock. His habit was to go at once to his customer there, Mr. Schloss, and chat a few minutes before dinner, but on this occasion he went at once to the Dodger house. It was noticed there that he did not act entirely natural. He was restless, laid down on a lounge, and moved about somewhat uneasily. He ate his dinner, however, and when Mr. Schloss came in, talked with him about business and matters of common interest between them. After dinner he asked for, and was given a room. Nothing further was thought of him by the landlord until train time, about three o'clock, when he went to his room to call him for the train going north. As there was no response and the door was locked the landlord became alarmed, and calling Mr. John B. Maas, of Keokuk, one of the men was raised up so that he might see in over the transom. Their worst fears were realized. There lay Mr. DEMING, dead. The door was hurriedly opened. The body lay cross wise upon the bed, with the feet hanging down upon the floor, and the head resting upon the pillows. In his right hand he still grasped the revolver, and in his right temple was the wound where the fatal bullet had entered. Undoubtedly death was instantaneous and he died without a struggle. In the room was found the following note:

Good bye dear wife family andfriends. I am tired of living. Notify Clarence DAVIS, Fairfield, and B. D. DEMING at Chicago.

No cause for the terrible deed was given excepting simply that he was "tired of living." The coroner and sheriff were at once summoned, but the death was so evidently the result of suscide (sic) that it was not necessary to hold an inquest. The coroner took possession of the remains and of the valuables upon Mr. DEMING's person. These consisted of $135 in cash, and notes to the amount of from $8,000 to $10,000, besides other papers, account books, etc. In order to secure possession of the papers and valuables, and in hope that some other light might be thrown from examination of them on the cause for the unfortunate man's rash act, it was deemed advisable to appoint an administrator at once, and Mr. D. R. Beatty, of this city was so appointed. Mr. Beatty and Mrs. J. S. McKemey, the attorney, went to Moulton on Saturday and secured the papers, but they contained no further clue or message.

The funural (sic) was held Saturday afternoon at three o'clock, from the family residence on West Washington street, the service being conducted by Rev. Dr. J. F. Magill, of the Presbyterian church, a next door neighbor to the deceased, and who in his brief discourse paid a beautiful tribute to the integrity and courtesy of Mr. DEMING. The pall bearers were Messrs. Fred Day, of Davenport, F. D. Carr, of Farmington, and E. B. Kearnes, W. E. Johnson, J. R. Speck and J. H. Tappert, of this city. The burial was private.

There were present at the funeral Mr. and Mrs. DEMING and daughter, Miss Nellie, Mr. and Mrs. DAVIS, Mr. Arthur L. Wheeler, all of Chicago; Mr. Baker, of Kewanee, Illinois; Mr. Fred and Miss Nellie Day, of Davenport; and Mr. and Mrs. F. D. Carr, of Farmington.

----

Frank Y. DEMING was the traveling representative for this territory of John Alling & Co., hardware dealers of Chicago, and he was one of the most popular traveling men on the road. Dignified affable, courteous, the soul of honor and integrity, a handsome man, and a good companion, without fault or blemish in his moral character, he was a man to attract friends and to hold them. He was exceedinly popular with his trade, and those who purchased from him felt that they could rely implicitly upon his judgment, having learned that he would not take advantage of their ignorance or impose upon them in his representations. That he was all that we have said of him is more fully shown by his long connection with the firm for which he traveled. He had been with the house of John Alling & Co. for nineteen years, having first begun in the capacity of office boy when he was fifteen years old. Year by year he had been promoted until he was receiving a salary of $2,500 per year, and was considered the best man in the employ of the house. He was born in Chicago, where his parents still resides (sic). He was married about six years ago to Miss DAVIS, of Chicago, whom he now leaves together with two little daughters, Helen aged four and Irene two years old. In the fall of 1891 Mr. DEMING located in Fairfield and built a substantial and comfortable residence, where, accompanied by his wife's father and mother, he has lived ever since. He had been eminently successful. Starting with nothing, he had accumulated property which, his administrator says, is worth fully $25,000. He was ambitious to accumulate, an untiring worker, and methodical to the last degree. His accounts were found to be in absolutely perfect condition. Every cent he received and every cent he expended was carefully kept record of, and the money on his person was found to tally exactly with his account book. He was one of the company, and had a half interest in the hardware business of F. D. Carr & Co. at Farmington and Mt. Sterling.

He was devoted to his wife and family, wrote and received letters from Mrs. DEMING daily and always spent Sundays at home. But Sunday was his only idle day. Every other day he worked, he worked hard, his thought was always on his business, and his whole purpose seemed to be to accumulate. Business the past year had not been all that he had hoped that it would be, and he had remarked but a few days before that his sales would not come up to those of last year. It is this alone that furnishes a plausible reason for his suicide. He had overworked, felt that he was breaking down, which many of his friends had noticed, brooded over the dullness in business, and in melancholy despondency ended his life.

~~~~
Copied with permission from The Fairfield Ledger, Inc.; others digital copyright 2021. IAGenWeb Bylaws PROHIBIT the COPYING AND RE-POSTING OF THIS MATERIAL IN ANY PUBLIC VENUE such as Ancestry or Find A Grave without WRITTEN permission from the submitter ~ copyright restrictions apply.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, IA, in Lot 1st.038. Wife Carried died in 1916 and was buried with him.