DONNER, John 1822 – 1897

DONNER, GILCHRIST

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/23/2024 at 17:00:55

Source: Decorah Republican May 20, 1897 P 3 C 3

Aged Mitchell Co, Suicide.
Osage News:—Word reached the city Monday about noon that John Donner an old man living in Burr Oak township, had committed suicide that morning or that his attempt to do so would likely prove fatal. As we get the story Mr. Donner had not been in good health for some time and was in consequence more or less despondent. On Friday he told one of the boys that he would take his own life. Monday morning it was late when he arose and after a light breakfast he said to his daughter, Mrs. W. R. Gilchrist, that he would go out to the barn. When he had been gone a short time she became uneasy and followed. On the way she met him returning his clothes dripping with water. When the wet garments were removed they found a wound in his abdomen about J inches long and several wounds in his neck, the trachea and aesophagus cut nearly off. An investigation showed that he had first gone to the barn and tried to hang himself but failing in his attempt he proceeded to inflict the wounds found upon his person, with a largo jack-knife he generally carried. Then he evidently became desparate and tried to drown himself in the tank but the shock of a cold bath evidently brought him back to his senses and he tried to get back to the house. Though everything possible was done for him he passed away about 11 o’clock Monday night.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows he was born in 1822 and died May 10, 1897. He is buried in the Osage Cemetery.