Melvin A. Kitchen (1890-1936)

KITCHEN, TRIPP, HOFFMAN, JOHNSON, MILLER, THOMAS

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 7/24/2010 at 08:23:48

Ames Daily Tribune and Times, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Tuesday, September 8, 1936.

MELVIN KITCHEN COMMITS SUICIDE

Napier Farmer Hangs Self From Tree

Melvin A. Kitchen, 56, a life-long resident of this vicinity committed suicide by hanging Monday afternoon at his farm home one mile north and three-fourths of a mile west of Napier.

A neighbor reported that he had talked to Kitchen about 2 p. m. The body was found about 6 p. m. in the barn yard, hanging from a tree which Kitchen had planted 25 years ago.

Was Despondent

Ill health and despondency over the loss of his wife a year ago in June were given as the reasons for his act. It was reported that he had feared an operation to remedy a gland trouble. Also, when his wife was living and most of the seven children were at home, the home was the scene of numerous farm socials, and the quietness since his wife's death had added to his despondency.

Kitchen had served as manager of the Ames Grain and Cole company elevator at Kelley for the past three years, operating the elevator in the morning and returning to his home in the afternoon.

Born at Iowa Center

He was born in Iowa Center Mar. 11, 1890, and had lived in the vicinity of Napier for the past 35 years, with the exception of three years when he operated a farm near Gilbert.

He is survived by seven children, Mrs. Mabel Tripp, Charles, George and Loyal, near home; Mrs. Beulah Hoffman of Ontario; Mrs. Eva Johnson of Boone, and Velma Kitchen, a teacher at Kelley. A sister, Mrs. Oscar Miller of Story City also survives.

Kitchen's wife, who died in June, 1935, was a sister of L. E. Thomas of Ames.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p. m. Wednesday from the Methodist church at Napier with the Rev. James Goughenour of Panora in charge. Burial will be in the Ames cemetery, beside his wife.

[Transcriber note: age and date of birth don't match but are as presented in the obituary. A transcription of his grave marker has the year of birth as 1880.]