Nelson Howell (1889)

FENTON, HOWELL

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 11/25/2007 at 09:26:01

Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, May 31, 1889
Page 4

SUICIDE OR MURDER.

Nelson Howell, of Crawford Township, in this County, Reported to have Committed Suicide.

On Tuesday morning the city was startled by a telegram received by the officers of the Masonic lodge in this city from Denver, Col., inquiring for the friends of Nelson Howell, and stating that he had committed suicide that morning at a hotel in that city. His relatives and friends were immediately notified. They, or at least some of them, refuse to believe that he took his own life, but maintain that he was murdered for his money.

He was a man of considerable means, but as he was a shrewd business man, it seems strange that he should carry large sums of money on his person. He has two sons living in Colorado, somewhere near Denver. We have understood that some weeks ago he expressed a determination to go out there spring to visit them and render them some financial assistance. This would make it appear likely that he would take considerable money with him, but in what form we can not say.

In any event it is a sad case. Mr. Howell is a brother of Aaron Howell, of Crawford township, and of David Howell, formerly of this city, now of Kansas. We hope to obtain further particulars next week.

Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, June 7, 1889
Page 1

NELSON HOWELL’S SUICIDE.

The Suicide Reported Last Week from Denver, Col., is that of Nelson Howell, of Crawford Township, in this County.

A Sad Departure from Life of an Upright Respected Citizen—From What Undoubtedly Was From Temporary Insanity.

Since writing the meager notice we were able to give last week of the suicide of Nelson Howell, of Crawford township, in this county, at Denver, Col., we have received a copy of the Rocky Mountain News, published at Denver, of date of Tuesday, May 28. The account is so full and apparently accurate, that we quote it entire. That paper says:

“On Sunday evening, about 8:30 o’clock an old man, carrying a large brown-leather valise came to the American House, at the corner of Sixth and Blake streets, and requested the clerk, C. E. Myers, to register him as T. C. Sharp, Demico, New Mexico. This was done and he was assigned to room No. 120 to which he retired at once, stating that he had just lunched and did not desire any supper.

The chambermaid, while attending to her duties yesterday morning, seeing the key on the outside of the door, attempted to go in, when the old man cried out, “hold on,” when she went away. She returned about three o’clock and found the key in the same position, with the door fastened on the inside. Again, at 6:30 o’clock, she tried the door and found it still barred.

Then she called the porter who procured a step ladder, and by this means looked into the room through the transom, and discovered the body of a man in a kneeling posture near the head of the bed, with the sheet twisted in the form of a rope over the head piece of the bed and wound about his neck. The carpet was covered with blood, as was also the bed and other furniture in the room. An entrance was obtained through a window from the roof of an adjoining addition.

The deceased was found to have a cut on each wrist and on the inside of the left arm, and also on the left ankle. A vessel was found in the room containing more than a quart of blood.

The suicide was about five feet and eleven inches in height, gray whiskers worn full and cut square, being about three inches long; they had been brown or sandy, as indicated by the yet unwhitened portions; small gray, or pale blue eyes, shaded by light sandy eyebrows, bald head, gray hair circling well up the sides, prominent, well-formed nose; age about 65 years. The body was taken in charge by the corner and removed from the hotel to his office on Champee street.

The body of the old gentleman was stripped, the wounds bound up, and embalmed. He was of splendid physique, the muscles were hard and the palms of the hands showed evidence of hard work, possibly on a farm. The gashes on the left ankle, on the right wrist and on the left wrist and upper part of the arm showed that he had a great amount of nerve. He lost at least a quart of blood, and was evidentally very weak when he place his head in the noose which he had made out of the sheet.

When found he had off his coat and vest, shoes and left sock. There was no name on his underclothing. His suit was a small brown check, the coat sack. In his pockets were found $590 and some small change, and the knife which he had used to cut himself, was a large, wooden-handled, two-bladed instrument. There was nothing else of value.

His satchel was of medium size, of yellow leather and new. In it was a brown, silk lined overcoat, a couple of shirts, hankerchiefs, drawers and socks, together with some old papers, the most of them receipts to Nelson Howell, Jr., and Nelson Howell. The latest data was June, 1878, (most likely a misprint for 1888), and proved to be a certificate of having paid his dues in Evening Star Lodge No. 48, A.F. and A.M., at Winterset, Iowa. Another was a withdrawl from the Patrons of Husbandry of Marion county, Iowa. There was also found a letter from Theodore Winningham, a real estate agent of Kansas City, to J. H. Winningham, in a small town in Missouri, introducing J. Sharp, dated May 15th, stating that the bearer was in search of good farms.

Coroner Rogers sent a telegram to the master of the lodge at Winterset, and to the Kansas City agent with the hope of obtaining desired information. He is either T. C. Sharp, J. Sharp, or Nelson Howell.

The same paper prints a cut which is a very fair likeness of Mr. Howell.

Immediately upon learning the fact of his death, by what means they were not then certain, for information of these later particulars was not received here till Thursday, the family and friends made arrangements to have the body sent home for interment. This was done, the remains reached Patterson Friday evening.

It was a terrible shock to Mr. Howell’s family, than which there is no more estimable family in the county. It was also a terrible shock to the community, that one of its most honored and prominent citizens should thus end his own existence. That he was laboring under an attack of temporary insanity there can be no doubt.

A few years ago he met with a fall on the ice, striking on his head. From the effect of this he has suffered a great deal since. He also, at one time, suffered a partial paralysis. Excepting these afflictions he had everything that could make his old age contented and happy. His family grown, or nearly all of them; his older sons successful farmers and business men; he had wealth far above the average fortune of man; he had the respect and esteem of the entire community as far as his acquaintance extended; he was harassed with no ambition for place or distinction. What else than insanity brought on by his physical injuries, could have impelled him to the rash deed?

A few weeks before his self-destruction he was in Winterset, and procured some medicine. He was advised by his physicians to take a rest from the cares of his large business, and, in order to do so, to travel awhile. This he concluded to do. He told his family that he had made up his mind to go to Newton and visit a cousin of his. He got ready and left home, but did not go to Newton at all. In a short time his son got a letter from him, written from Kansas City, giving some directions about the farms and stock, and stating that he was no better of his suffering. The next that was heard of him was that he had taken his own life, as narrated above.

The information came, as we stated last week, through the Masonic lodge of this city, of which he was a member. Mr. Howell was, with his brothers, Aaron and David, among the earliest settlers of Madison county. They and their families endured the hardships of pioneer days, and each amassed a good competence as the rewards of labor.

The funeral obsequies was held at the homestead two and one-half miles north of Patterson at 2 o’clock on Sabbath afternoon. The funeral sermon was preached by H. C. Preston, of the M. E. church. At the close of the funeral services the casket was placed in a suitable place for the vast crowd of people to view the remains. After this the Masonic fraternity, of which he was an honored member, took charge of the remains and they were followed to the cemetery by perhaps nearly a thousand people. At the grave the order performed the ritualistic services.

The following sketch of his life has been furnished us:

Nelson Howell was born in the state of New Jersey, August 2d, 1825. He emigrated with his parents to Ohio in 1830, residing in Ohio until he reached his 23d year, when he removed to Illinois, where he remained until 1865, in which year he came to Iowa and settled in Madison county, which has been his home since until the time of his death.

He was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Fenton Nov. 28th, 1850, with whom he lived in the most affectionate bonds of the marriage union. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Howell, seven sons and three daughters, nine are living, one died in infancy.

Mr. Howell’s parents were Methodists. He learned in his childhood from affectionate parents the principals of truth. His father died when he was twelve years of age, his mother died about eight years ago.

Mr. Howell had proven his ability to provide and to secure for himself and family a beautiful home.

The probable cause of death by his own hand was temporary insanity, caused from the effects of an injury received by a fall about three years ago.

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