Vera Patience Bishop 1889-1913

BISHOP

Posted By: C. Diamond, IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 9/5/2014 at 10:01:04

Mrs. B. F. Bishop Suicides.
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In last week’s paper we gave only the news that Mrs. B. F. Bishop had been found drowned but could not give more of the details. The account of the same, we give below:
Mr. Bishop went to the field to shuck corn at the usual time but noticed nothing out of the ordinary in Mrs. Bishop’s actions. While he was at work her mind became unbalanced. She did her morning work, cleaned up the home, put the baby girl to sleep, pinned her in bed, then went to the water tank and drowned herself.

Ben came in from the field at 11 o’clock and as he drove past the water tank he saw what he took to be a piece of paper so stopped to get it out. It proved to be his wife’s dress and he carried her to the house and telephoned for his parent’s and Dr. Alliband. They arrived at about the same time and every effort was made to bring her back but she had been in the water too long and their efforts were useless. It is thought that she had been in the tank at least an hour before she was found.

It is generally thought that she had an attack of momentary insanity and suddenly committed the act. The only clue to her death was the short note which she left laying on the table which read as follows: God bless my kind and loving husband and my sweet little baby girl. I have lost my mind. “Good bye.” No name was signed. She had also marked passages in the Bible and had marked the songs she wanted sung at the funeral services. She had in no way given any inclination that she had any such intentions or any reasons for the same. It is all shrouded in mystery. Many rumors were soon afloat of things she had said and done but most of these were unfounded.

Below is given the obituary:
Vera Patience Bishop was born May 10,1889 and departed this life November 6, 1913, her age being 24 years, 5 months and 26 days. She was married to Benj. F. Bishop February 28, 1912 and to this union was born a daughter, Lois Lucille. She had converted early in life during the pastorate of A. J. Coe and united with the Methodist church at Pilot Grove where she remained a member until her death. She took a special interest in the Sunday school and work of the church and was spoken of many as being a good Christian. She loved the Bible and was a close student of the same. When she was fifteen months of age her mother died, her being the only child. The community was greatly shocked when it was learned of her untimely death and just what the cause was that led her to take the final step, no one knows.

The funeral services were conducted Saturday afternoon from the Pilot Grove church by the Rev. Jackson Giddens the pastor, after which the mortal remains were laid to rest in Pilot Grove Center cemetery by the church. She leaves to mourn her death the husband, a daughter, father, stepmother, three sisters and two brothers besides many other relatives and a great host of friends. The attendance at the funeral was one of the largest ever assembled in this section. The floral tributes were many and beautiful. The pallbearers were the companion friends of this young couple, Ray Smith, Ben Pogue, Geo. DeWitt, Geo. Marsh, Howard Moore, and Oliver Howard. The sorrowing ones will have the sympathy of all who know them.

 
THE ELLIOTT GRAPHIC, Elliott, Iowa, November 13, 1913.