Applegate, Harvey (1902)

APPLEGATE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 8/22/2009 at 17:00:39

Unknown newspaper; dated: Sept. 10, 1902

HARVEY APPLEGATE

Our people were startled Sunday night to learn of the suicide of Harvey Applegate, the sixteen year old son of Wm. Applegate. The boy has been making his home with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. T.S. Applegate, since the death of his mother several years ago. His uncle, Geo. Applegate, started a pearl button factory here last spring and since that time he has been here with his parents and he and the boy both resided with the elder Applegate and worked in the factory all summer. The boy liked the work and had reached a degree of efficiency whereby he was enabled to make as much money as anyone in the factory. Last spring Joseph Reavis and wife moved to the Law place south of town. Mrs. Reavis is a daughter of Wm. Applegate and consequently a sister of the boy. As was the custom the father and son went to the country home of Mrs. Reavis about every Sunday. Last Saturday night the boy made his weekly visit and Sunday he was joined by his father. After spending the day there the father suggested that it was time for them to come to town but the boy rather hesitated. His father reminded him that school began the next morning and that he must be on hand ready to go. He said that he did not want to go to school. His father said that his teachers had spoken very highly of his work and his report showed that he was in the lead in his class. This did not furnish the lad with any enthusiasm, but he did consent to return to his grandparents with his father. About 8:30 o'clock Sunday night his father noticed him hunting for something in the pantry by the light of a burning match. He suggested to the boy that he might set fire to something and had better get a lamp. Just at this time he blew out the match, remarking that he "had found it" and then left the room and went upstairs. He had been up there but an instant until a report of a gun, followed by a heavy fall upon the floor, startled his father and grandmother. His father rushed upstairs with all promptness and lying on the floor, partly supported by a trunk, he beheld in the darkness the lifeless form of his boy, a target gun of 22 calibre lying across his limbs told the awful story. F.D. Light, justice of the peace, was notified and as acting coroner summoned John H. Porter, Alex Duffus and I.L. Evans as jurors who proceeded to hold an inquest over the remains at the request of the family. Nothing was brought out that gave any reason for the sad conduct of the boy excepting the fact that he did not want to enter school. His father stated that he had a good home and that he had not punished him since he was a small boy. On the day of the tragedy there had been no ill feeling and not a harsh word had been spoken to him. The muzzle of the small target gun had been placed squarely in the center of the forehead about an inch above the line with the eyes and evidently held in position with one hand and with the other the trigger was pulled. A small hole and the skin slightly discolored by the powder was all that was visible in the deadly work. The funeral took place from the Christian church Monday and the remains were laid away in the cemetery at the Christian church west of town by the side of his departed mother and sister.