GRAUEL, Roy David 1888 - 1925

GRAUEL, GANTZ

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 11/23/2023 at 13:58:22

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Thursday, July 23, 1925
Front Page, Column 1

ROY GRAUEL HANGED SELF TODAY NOON

In Corn Crib At John GANTZ Home; Was In Poor Health And Despondent

Roy D. GRAUEL, about 30 years old, committed suicide by hanging himself with a small rope late this forenoon in the corn crib at the home of his father-in-law John GANTZ, ten miles northwest of the city. His lifeless body was found about twelve o'clock by his sister-in-law Mrs. Orval GANTZ as she went to call him for dinner.

His neck was broken and when found his body was still warm. He had been shelling corn in this crib during the forenoon and he was seen to have this rope, which was a very small one, but nothing unusual was suspected at that time. His health has been very poor since suffering an attack of the flu several months ago, and at times he has been very despondent since being here. It is probable that he took his life while in a fit of despondency.

Mr. GRAUEL and his wife, who was formerly Miss Marie GANTZ of this city came here from their home in Council Bluffs about three months ago so that GRAUEL could recuperate from his illness. Only recently they had taken rooms in this city on West Washington steret.

The Coroner, Dr. W. T. Webb, and Deputy Sheriff Clarence Glass were i mmediately (sic) notified and hurried to the GANTZ home to hold an inquest.

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Friday, July 24, 1925
Front Page, Column 6

GRAUEL FUNERAL AT 10 OCLOCK

Service Will Be Private; Rev. R. H. Polly In Charge; Interment At Evergreen

Private funeral services for Roy D. GRAUEL, who committed suicide by hanging himself yesterday at the home of his father-in-law, John GANTZ 10 miles northwest of the city, will be held from the home tomorrow morning at 10 oclock. Rev. R. H. Polly will officiate. Interment will be made in the Evergreen cemetery.

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Saturday, July 25, 1925
Page Two, Column 3

Roy D. GRAUEL Was Organizer For The Klan, It Is Claimed

The following in regard to Roy D. GRAUEL who committed suicide by hanging himself in a corn crib Thursday noon, was taken from the Des Moines Register and Leader:

Roy GRAUEL who hanged himself at Fairfield was well known in south-western Iowa, as an organizer of the Ku-Klux-Klan, and last summer was in the public eye following an attack upon himself and a local minister, who had gone to Missouri Valley to hold a klan meeting.

GRAUEL, it was alleged was badly beaten and a case bearing klan literature and a sum of money taken from him. The attackers, it was charged followed GRAUEL and the minister to a point between Missouri Valley and Logan and there attacked them again.

He spent his boyhood in Omaha and served in the World War sustaining several wounds in action. He was a musician and during the past year played at a local theatre. Following the war he was in business in Muscatine, giving up that to go into the klan service.

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Tuesday, July 28, 1925
Page Three, Column 1

Errors Of Des Moines Newspaper Corrected

The following statements are made by Mrs. Roy GRAUEL in correction to the write up of the life of her husband, which appeared in the Des Moines Register and was re-coiped (sic) by the Fairfield Daily Ledger.

At the time of Roy GRAUEL's death he was in no way whatsoever connected with the Klu Klux Klan (sic). After leaving Muscatine three years ago he was associated in business with his father, C. D. GRAUEL at Avoca, Iowa, later moving to Council Bluffs where he accepted a posotion in the Hurd Creamery company. In regard to service during the World War, he served one year, two months and five days in the U. S. army, a part of the time being stationed at Ft. Cook, Neb., and later at Camp Funston, Kansas. At no time did he engage in actual fighting, consequently sustained no wounds therefrom as stated in said paper. Previously, Roy GRAUEL spent four years in the U. S. navy having sailed around the world with the fleet on board the U. S. S. Delaware during Roosevelt's administration.

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

Note: Buried in Lot 2nd.122. Wife Osa Marie GANTZ GRAUEL died in 1982 and was buried with him.