John Henry Wintrode
WINTRODE
Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 3/18/2006 at 08:17:07
The Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, December 30, 1909
Page 1Dr. J. H. Wintrode
The saddest death perhaps that has ever occurred in Winterset was that of J. H. Wintrode at about noon on Christmas day, when either by accident or by intent a bullet from a revolver in his own hand went crashing through his brain causing instant death.
Dr. Wintrode left his home sometime in the middle of the forenoon Saturday and went to the Citizens' National bank. Being a holiday the bank was closed but both W. J. Cornell the cashier and the janitor were there at the time, both leaving sometime later, Mr. Wintrode remaining.
Mr. Cornell returned not long afterwards finding the doctor a corpse in his chair with a revolver lying on the floor beneath his hand. No one will ever know just how the tragedy occurred. On the desk before which Mr. Wintrode sat was a revolver which was always kept there and this was the instrument which caused his untimely death.
The deceased had been in poor health for some time and of late had become very despondent. These are the only known facts concerning the sad affair which cast a gloom over Winterset, on a day that should have been characterized only by happiness and good cheer.
There was not a more popular man in Madison county than Mr. Wintrode. He was in all probability known by every man at least in the county and his jovial, warmhearted nature; his exemplary character, integrity and his known reliability in all things, made it a pleasure and an honor to be counted one of his friends. The shock sustained by the community when the news of the tragedy spread over the city can be better imagined than told.
Dr. John H. Wintrode was born in St. Clairsville, Pa, in 1849. He was a graduate of the Philadelphia Medical college but never practiced his profession. He came to Winterset in 1876 and for a time engaged in the drug business. Since 1890 he has been president of the Citizens' National bank, one of the strongest financial institutions of the state. He was known among bankers in central Iowa as one of the ablest, safest and most successful bank presidents in the state.
_______________________The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, December 31, 1909
Page 1, Column 1SAD CHRISTMAS IN WINTRODE HOME
Dr. Wintrode Shoots Himself on Christmas Day
PHYSICIANS SAY BERVOUS WRECK
President of Citizens’ National Bank Ends His Life. Fearful of Another Operation. Victim of Melancholia. Death was Instant.
When Cashier W. J. Cornell went behind the railing of the Citizens’ National bank Christmas day at 1 o’clock to meet Dr. Wintrode to clear up some unfinished business, he was horrified to see Wintrode sitting in the chair, his head bowed over, his face bloodstained, and a revolver lying by his side. Cornell grasped him by the shoulder. “Doc” he called. There was no response. Wintrode was dead.
Dr. Wintrode had placed the muzzle of a 38-caliber revolver at his temple and pulled the trigger. The ball passed entirely through his head, entering just above the right ear and coming out in his left ear. The bullet was found on the floor. Cornell grabbed the telephone and summoned Dr. Thompson. When Dr. Thompson arrived at the bank he at once saw that life was extinct.
Dr. Wintrode had attended the Christmas exercises at the Presbyterian church Friday evening. He appeared to enjoy the program to a marked degree, and was in good spirits. Christmas morning, with his family, he visited the home of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Mary Hutchings, on west Jefferson street. He came down to the bank before noon, leaving his family to go on home. He went to White’s barbershop in the basement of the bank and was shaved by John White, and then went to the bank, where he made an appointment to meet Cornell, the cashier, at 1 o’clock. Blake, the assistant cashier, left Wintrode at half past twelve. A little later Duff, the auctioneer, entered the bank and talk with him. About 12:35 Joe Ruth, a Barber and White’s shop heard a shot. He paid no attention to it, thinking that something had fallen on the bank floor. When Mr. Cornell preached the bank at 1 o’clock he found Wintrode sitting in the cashier’s chair, his head bowed down, stone dead. Dr. Thompson and Dr. Corkey were the messengers who conveyed the sad news to the family.
Dr. Wintrode was president of the Citizens’ National bank. He would have been 61 years old January 19. He came to Winterset 35 years ago and with Dr. Wray bought the Yates drugstore, the present drugstore of Catterlin & Niblo. A year afterward he married Flora Hutchings. A year or two afterward he sold his interest in the drugstore and engaged in the banking business with his father-in-law, Joseph Hutchings. After Mr. Hutchings death, Wintrode succeeded him in management of affairs of the Citizens’ National bank, one of the strongest financial institutions in Iowa.
Dr. Wintrode was a graduate of a Philadelphia medical school, but never practiced. He was active, restless, and a bundle of nerves, and to his listless life his friends attribute is reckless deed. Four years ago he was compelled to undergo an operation in Rochester, Minn., for gallstones. Fear of another operation of the same kind preyed on his mind. He was subject to spells of despondency. For days at a time he spoke in monosyllables. Really he had no cause for any of it. His finances were in good condition and his family relations were ideal. It was a nervous breakdown of an active man confined to an inactive life. Under the strain of no work, Wintrode gave way.
The funeral was held from the home on east Jefferson street at 2 o’clock Tuesday. Rev. Henry Wallace of Des Moines, and Dr. Corkey conducted the services.
Besides his wife, he leaves two daughters, Mrs. Clyde Krabiel, and Josephine Wintrode, a student of Lake Forest Seminary, and one son, John Wintrode, twelve years old.
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