Sybil Eleanor (Leutzinger) Hammans (1938)
LEUTZINGER, HAMMANS, HAMMONS
Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:02:53
The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, May 4, 1938
Page 1, Column 1LAKE YIELDS BODY OF SUICIDE VICTIM
Monroe Township Woman Ends Life in Thayer Lake Monday
The waters of Thayer lake, south of Lorimor in Union county, yielded the body of Mrs. Ralph Hammons of Monroe township Monday afternoon, apparently a victim of suicide.
Mrs. Hammons had been the object of an extensive search since about 11 a.m. Monday, at which time she was known to be missing.
The victim had suffered a nervous breakdown last fall, and had been suffering from ill health and despondency all winter.
Early Monday she drove her car into Lorimor to market some cream. After completing her business there, she apparently drove to Thaer lake, which is located about three-fourths of a ile east of the Y where No. 169 joins No. 34. She parked her car near the lake, leaving a note in it in which she announced her intention of taking her own life, and giving directions as to funeral and burial.
She then dropped a large stone in a sack, and tied it around her neck with a cord. Climbing out on a willow tree which overhung the water, she jumped in.
It was thought at Mrs. Hammons died at about 10 a.m. About 4 p.m. Lew Orwin of Lorimor who knew that she was missing, saw and recognized the car parked near the lake, and upon investigating, found the note. He immediately notified the woman’s husband and Union county authorities. Two men from Thayer, hearing of the incident, went down to the lake, discovered the body, and brought it to shore. She had been dead for some time.
Mrs. Hammons was widely known in Madison county and around Loorimor. Se was the former Sybil Leutzinger and was a native of Pleasantville. As a young woman she had taught school in Lorimor. She was about 50 years of age.
She is survived by her husband and her son Jack Hammons.
Funeral services are to be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in Lorimor, and burial will be made in the Lorimor cemetery.
________________________Transcriber's note: Typed as printed in the Winterset Madisonian. Last name is Hammans. Middle name from Iowa Death Certificate.
Link to Gravestone Photo
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen