John Melvin Chrisman (1867-1927)

CHRISMAN, REED, LANE

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

From Nevada Evening Journal and The Nevada Representative August 24, 1927 (page 1)

NEVADA RESIDENT HAS DISAPPEARED

JOHN M. CHRISMAN LEFT HIS HOME EARLY SATURDAY, NOT BACK YET

"I am going to Des Moines on a deal--Daddy."

Leaving the above note on a dresser in his room, John M. Chrisman, 60, retired farmer and landowner of this city, left his home at an early hour Saturday morning, walked to the Rock Island station, bought a ticket to Des Moines, boarded the train and nothing has been heard of him since.

Today, after five days absence, the family and friends fear that grieving over the death of his wife about three years ago, and brooding over financial reverses, has caused his mind to break under the strain, it is feared that he has wandered away.

The daughter Gertrude, with whom he had made his home, reported her fears to friends, when he failed to return Saturday night as she expected. Since then an effort has been made to locate him, but to no avail.

Inquiry at places where he may have had business had thrown no light upon the matter and search of the hospitals of Des Moines has failed to locate him.

Today the matter had been reported to Sheriff Nebergall, who will institute a search for the missing man.

Mr. Chrisman, a resident of the community for nearly a third of a century, was well known and most highly respected in the county and among land men in northern Iowa and Minnesota, where he had interests.

He was a man of genteel appearance was 5 feet 7 inches in height, weighed about 140 pounds, had graying hair and mustache and wore a gray coat and trousers, with a soft straw hat.

Tuesday, his absence was reported to the other daughter, Mrs. Ruth Chrisman-Lane of St. Anthony an in the afternoon Mr. Lane drove to Des Moines, searched the hospitals and made inquiries at places it was thought that he might have been.

Mr. Chrisman has farming interests near Guckeen, in Fairibault county, Minn., but inquiry indicates that he has not been there for some time.

Sheriff Nebergall said today that after exhausting other means of locating the missing man, it was probable that he would broadcast his description sand for information regarding him.

The Chrismans have made their home for the past year in the residence of Mrs. E. F. Vail at 720 Eighth street.

Mr. Chrisman has been despondent for some time and has seldom left his home, other than to come up town for the necessary shopping and has appeared to avoid associating with his friends, a condition entirely contrary to his nature before the death of Mrs. Chrisman and his financial reverses came upon him.

From Nevada Evening Journal and The Nevada Representative August 29, 1927 (page 1)

Headline:
BODY OF MISSING MAN IS FOUND

THINK DROWNED MAN IS FOUND IS JOHN M. CHRISMAN

IDENTIFICATION MADE LARGELY THROUGH THE CLOTHING WORN BY MAN

The tragedy of the mysterious disappearance of John M. Chrisman, 60, from his home here early the morning of August 20, is clearing today, by the identification by Sheriff Nebergall, W. H. Harlan and Harry Huddlestun of this city of a body found floating in the Des Moines river near Carlisle, late Sunday, as that of the missing Nevada man.

While the body was in a condition to make identification of the features almost impossible, the clothing worn was identified as that worn by Mr. Chrisman when he left his home here. Sheriff Nebergall stated at noon today that there was little question but that the body held at Carlisle is that of the Nevada man.

When the story of the finding of the body at Carlisle reached the Evening Journal over the press wire early today, the description so resembled that of the missing Nevada man that Sheriff Nebergall was advised of the finding of the body.

A telephone call to the coroner in charge of the body confirmed the suspicions and strengthened the belief that it might be the body of Mr. Chrisman. The sheriff, accompanied by W. H. Harlan and Harry Huddlestun, both close friends of Mr. Chrisman, drove down to Carlisle at once.

At noon Sheriff Nebergll called the Evening Journal and said that while the condition of the body forbade positive identification without careful examination, the clothing worn was such as that worn by Mr. Chrisman when he left here.

When Mr. Chrisman disappeared on the morning of August 20 he left the vest of the suit that he was wearing at home. This vest was taken along by the sheriff this morning and it served as means of positively identifying the body. In the place of the vest there was a sweater which also resembled one such as Mr. Chrisman had been known to wear occasionally.

An effort was made of locate George Lane, son-in-law of Mr. Chrisman, at his home at St. Anthony, but inquiry there indicated that he was on the Iowa State fair grounds today, hoping that he might run onto the missing man.

Every effort will be made this afternoon to positively identify the body and as there is every reason to feel confident that it is that of Mr. Chrisman, it is probable that it will be brought back to Nevada for interment.

Mr. Chrisman, who had become despondent and melancholy during the past year or so following the death of Mrs. Chrisman, and through brooding over financial difficulties, is thought to have left his home here while demented and committed the rash act.

He was known to have purchased a ticket for Des Moines, and boarded a Rock Island train out of her for that city on the morning that he left his home, leaving a note for his daughter stating that he was going to Des Moines "on a deal," and signing it "Daddy."

From Nevada Evening Journal and The Nevada Representative August 31, 1927 (page 3)

CHRISMAN'S BODY INTERRED MONDAY

IDENTIFICATION POSITIVE AND WAS BROUGHT FROM CARLISLE FOR BURIAL

The body of John M. Chrisman, 60, was interred in the Nevada cemetery late Monday, after it had been brought here from Carlisle where it had been taken from the Des Moines river, where it was found late Sunday. Early Monday Sheriff Nebergall, accompanied by W. H. Harlan, Harry Huddlestun and J. P. Hefner, drove down to Carlisle, viewed the body and identified it by the clothing, as that of Mr. Chrisman who had disappeared from his home here a week before.

Thus was the mysterious disappearance of Mr. Chrisman cleared up during the tenth day.

Thus ended the life of one of Story county's most respected citizens and for many years one of the men active in business and social affairs of Nevada. Despondency over the death of his wife and over financial reverses was the cause of his tragic ending.

The two daughters have the most profound sympathy of the entire community in their hours of great sadness.

John M. Chrisman was a son of James A. and Amanda J. Chrisman, and was born in Bureau county, Ill., February 16, 1867. Mr. Chrisman spent his younger days in his native county of Illinois, attended the district school and spent three years in the high school at Princeton, Ill. Later he spent three years in the university at Valparaiso, Indiana.

It was in 1891 that he was united in marriage to Miss Addie Reed while still a resident of Bureau county, Ill. Nine years later, in 1901, Mr. and Mrs. Chrisman moved to Iowa and located on a farm in Richland township, Story county, on which they resided until they retired from active farm life about a dozen years ago and moved to Nevada, where they established their home at 814 Eighth street, where they lived until the death of Mrs. Chrisman about two years ago.

Two children had been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chrisman--both daughters. The elder is Ruth, now Mrs. George Lane of St. Anthony, while the younger, Miss Gertrude, had continued to make her home with the father, since the passing of the mother.

Retiring from farming Mr. Chrisman became interested as a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of this city ans was also largely interested in farm land investments, both in Story county and in Minnesota.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Chrisman were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were ardent workers in that field. He was always a public spirited man and took an active interest in matters of political and public interest and could always be depended upon to be on the side of right and justice. During his long residence in Richland township he had served on the school board and was, at the time of his passing, treasurer of the board, although having his residence in Nevada.

He was a man that had won the esteem of the people of the community by his righteousness and integrity and his tragic passing is deeply regretted by a wide circle of friends.

The brief funeral services, conducted at the grave, in the presence of members of the family and a few friends, were in charge of his former pastor, Dr. R. M. Shipman, now of the First Methodist church of Ames.