Reuben Moorman (1909)

MOORMAN, PRYOR, WHITE

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 3/31/2014 at 08:27:10

Winterset Madisonian
July 22, 1909
Pg 1

SUICIDE AT EARLHAM

Reuben Moorman, While Mentally Unbalanced, Shoots Himself With a Revolver

Reuben Moorman, for a number of years a resident of Earlham, killed himself with a revolver at that place early Tuesday morning. Mr. Moorman had a case of sun stroke about a week ago from which he had not fully recovered and the physicians say that his mind was temporarily deranged from his sickness. He arose early Tuesday morning, walked about the house for a short time, and then procured a revolver and shot himself through the head. He lived about an hour.

He was a carpenter by trade and was well to do. He was a good citizen and stood well in the community, and had served on the city council and school board, and was a member of the Masonic and I.O.O.F. fraternities. He was about middle age and leaves a wife and two daughters. His domestic relations were pleasant, and outside of the mental derangement resulting from his being sun struck while working on a building, there was no reason for his rash act. His sudden death was a great shock to his friends and acquaintances and the community feels the loss of a good citizen.
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Earlham Echo – Earlham, Iowa
July 22, 1909

Tuesday morning the people of Earlham were shocked and saddened to hear that Rube Moorman had, in a fit of mental derangement, killed himself. Mr. Moorman had been in poor health for the past two years and has been troubled a great deal with sciatic rheumatism. About two weeks ago he was overcome with the heat and was confined to the house for several days, on the Wednesday preceding his heath he was delirious most of the day but on Thursday he was much better and was able to be about. Tuesday morning he arose about 4 o’clock a.m., went out to the barn and fed his horse, pulled the buggy out of the shed and got everything in readiness for Chas. Thomson, who was using his horse, to go to the country. He returned to the house and sat down in a large rocking chair. Presently his wife, who had not arisen heard the report of a gun, whereupon she called to him and getting no reply rushed into the room where he was sitting and found him unconscious and with a bullet hole in his head just above the ear. In spite of all that loving hands and skill could do he died in about an hour without ever regaining consciousness.

Mr. Moorman was a hard and conscientious worker and loved by all who knew him, and his bereaved family have the sincere sympathy of the entire community in their affliction.

Ruben Moorman, son of Daniel and Stacia Jane Moorman, was born in Tipton county, Indiana, August 8th, 1854, and died at his home in Earlham, Iowa, July 20, 1909.

His mother died when he was about nine months old. In 1803 he came with his father to Iowa and located on a farm near the present site of the town of Linden. In 1900 he moved to Earlham where he has since resided.

In the fall of 1880 he was married to Miss Mary Pryor of Panora, who died about 8 months after marriage. In 1886 he was united in marriage to Amilley J. White of Linden, Iowa. To this union was born two daughters, Stacia and Belva, who, with the wife, father, stepmother, one sister and five brothers are left to mourn their loss.

He had been a member of both the Odd Fellows and the Masonic orders for about 25 years and by whom he was loved and honored.

Funeral services will be held this (Thursday) afternoon from his home conducted by Rev. J. W. Stribling, and interment will be in Earlham cemetery. The Odd Fellows will have charge of the services at the house and the Masons at the grave.

Gravestone Photo
 

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