Maynard, Lee Duane, 1875-1922

MAYNARD, CILLEY

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/26/2017 at 21:20:16

From the Hawarden Independent, November 16, 1922, news of Ireton and vicinity:

Lee Maynard Commits Suicide

The many Ireton friends of Lee Maynard of LeMars were greatly shocked Sunday to learn that he had taken his own life some time during Saturday night. Mr. Maynard conducted the Ireton Ledger a number of years ago and had many warm friends here. He also conducted a newspaper at Chatsworth some twenty-two years ago and was well known and highly regarded among the newspaper fraternity of northwest Iowa. Tuesday's LeMars Sentinel gave the following account of the tragedy:

"Lee Maynard, a resident of LeMars for the past seven years, and well known in northwestern newspaper circles, was found dead in a shed in the rear of his job printing office on Central avenue on Sunday morning about ten o'clock. During the night he had committed suicide by hanging.

"James Duff, a youth employed by Mr. Maynard, was the first to come upon the tragedy which has wrecked a home and caused grief to many relatives and friends. Duff, startled at the gruesome discovery, rushed to the home of Mrs. Maynard and abruptly broke the news to her, intensifying the shock of the dreadful tidings. Mrs. Maynard informed neighbors and they communicated with the police who went to investigate the circumstances.

"The body, stark and rigid, was found suspended from a rafter in a coal shed in the rear of the office. An overturned chair was in proximity. The dead man had wrapped a piece of heavy twine around his neck, apparently, and after standing on the chair and adjusting the noose, kicked the chair away, and strangled to death. His feet were only a few inches from the floor. He was fully clothed and had his cap pulled down over his eyes. Physicians who were summoned stated death had taken place several hours before. James Duff, employed in the office, said he saw his employer about two o'clock Saturday afternoon when Duff started to the Sibley-LeMars foot ball game. A daughter of Mr. Maynard was in the office at five o'clock and talked with her father. At police headquarters it was stated that Mr. Maynard was seen working in his office at ten o'clock on Saturday evening.

"Mr. Maynard did not go home to supper on Saturday nor did he appear later in the evening but this fact did not disturb the family for on frequent occasions of late Mr. Maynard had been going to Sioux City to see his aged father, who is very sick, and spending Sunday there. The only disquietude aroused was the fact that Mr. Maynard generally left a note or a message with the office boy to let his wife know when he went to Sioux City. On Sunday morning, not having received a message from him, Mrs. Maynard became alarmed and over the phone told Duff to go to the office.

"The suicide is attributed to a mental aberration. Mr. Maynard had been in ill health at different periods the past two years. He was worrying also, it is stated, on account of the illness of his father and over financial affairs. He was a victim of insomnia and tried various remedies to obtain relief.

"Coroner A. B. Barnett of Merrill was summoned to investigate the case. He decided it was a clear case of suicide and that no inquest was necessary.

"The funeral services were held this morning at the Beely undertaking parlors and the body taken to Sioux City for interment at Graceland Park cemetery.

Lee Duane Maynard was born at Olean, N.Y., on July 20, 1875. When he was eight years old his parents came west and settled near Aberdeen, S.D. At an early age he began to learn the printers' trade at which he worked all his life. From Aberdeen the family moved to Sioux City which has since been their home.

"Lee Maynard worked in the office of the Sioux City Journal, Sioux City Tribune and Sioux City News at different times and also in country newspaper offices in surrounding towns and had a wide acquaintance among the printing fraternity. For some years he conducted a paper at Ireton on his own account. About seven years ago he came to LeMars and after being employed in the Sentinel and Globe newspaper offices, opened a job printing establishment of his own in which venture he was engaged until death took him.

"Mr. Maynard was a musician of some note and was greatly interested in band music. He was leader of the band in LeMars and also of bands in Marcus and Ireton. He served as secretary of the LeMars Commercial club for a term and was interested in civic and community affairs. He was greatly interested in advertising as a calling, in its various forms and features, and engrossed in a study of its possible development in all lines, and made it an intensive study.

"Mr. Maynard was united in marriage on November 26, 1896, with Miss Nettie Cilley at Peterson, Iowa. To this union three daughters were born, who are Mildred, employed as teacher in the Hurley, S.D., schools; Lulu, who is studying at the Iowa State Teachers college at Cedar Falls; and Margaret, who attends the LeMars schools. Besides his wife and daughters, he leaves to mourn his untimely death, his aged parents, Mr. and Mrs. Levi Maynard of North Riverside, Sioux City, who are both suffering from ill health and the weight of years."