John Stevenson Seymour (1904-1924)

SEYMOUR, SLATER, JOHNSON

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 4/30/2024 at 20:51:33

From the Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, November 13, 1924.

DESPONDENT MAN TAKES OWN LIFE

YOUNG SEYMOUR DESPONDENT OVER FAILURES, COMMITS SUICIDE

People of this community were shocked Sunday morning when the word was passed around that a suicide had been committed in Roland the night before, that John Seymour, growing despondent over his failures, had taken his own life by hanging himself in the home of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Rebecca Johnson. No one had any intimation that the young man was considering any such move, quite a number having talked to him during the day and he seemed rational at the time, although it was known that he was broke and looking for work.

Mr. and Mrs. Seymour were at home alone at the time, Mrs. Johnson being away for a visit at Hampton. Mrs. Seymour, with their child, had retired for the night before eight o'clock, and Mr. Seymour stated he would come soon. Mrs. Seymour awoke about ten o'clock and wondering why he did not come, went down to the kitchen and found the body of her husband hanging from the ceiling. He had used a trunk strap for the deed, fastening one end to a hook in the ceiling and the other around his neck. She managed to get the body down and telephoned for Dr. Synder who came immediately. Upon examination, he found life extinct and notified the town authorities and called in some of the neighbors. Coroner D. G. Mills was summoned from McCallsburg, and inquest was held, and the jury's verdict was that Mr. Seymour had met his death by suicide.

Had Various Experiences

Young Seymour, who was not yet twenty years old, had had many experiences during his short life. He was the son of J. J. Slater of Des Moines, and when he was two years old he was adopted by the late Dr. F. E. Seymour of Fort Dodge. The physician gave the lad an education but when he was nine years old and attending St. Joseph's academy at Dubuque, he refused to go to school any longer and was disinherited. He managed to get along some way or another, selling papers and working as bellboy in Fort Dodge and Des Moines, when Dr. Seymour, who had been a rich bachelor and had just been married a month, died, leaving his entire estate, valued at $600,000 to his young wife. The boy contested the will, at the first trial the jury disagreed, and at a second trial, settlement was made out of court, and he got $15,000 out of the estate, half of which went to the lawyers for fees. With his little fortune, he tried to make more money, attempting to start an advertising agency but did not fare well. Last August he went east to Indiana and New York, and about two weeks ago came back to Roland, having lost all of his money. He asked at several places in Roland for employment, and also in Des Moines, but could find nothing. Growing despondent over his continued failures, he ended it all by taking his own life about ten o'clock last Saturday night.

John Stevenson Seymour was born on Nov. 15, 1904 at Lovillia, and died on November 8, 1924, and would have been 20 years old if he had lived until next Saturday. He was married on May 1, 1923, to Miss Nell Johnson of this place, who is left to mourn her loss with their child, an eight months old son. He also leaves his father, two sisters and one brother. The funeral was held from the Johnson residence yesterday afternoon at two o'clock, Rev. G. O. Paulsrud of Randall officiating. Interment took place in the Roland cemetery. The sympathy of the community is extended to those who have had to pass through this sad experience.