Charles Priest (1866-1924)

PRIEST, STRATTON, ENFIELD, LUTHER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/3/2022 at 18:44:34

From Nevada Evening Journal March 26, 1924 (page 1)

PIONEER FARMER TOOK OWN LIFE

CHARLES PRIEST OF SOUTH OF MAXWELL FOUND DEAD IN HOME AT LORING

Maxwell, March 26--Charles Priest, 57, pioneer of the Loring community south of here committed suicide at an early hour yesterday morning by hanging himself in his home in the village. The body was found hanging in the home by Tom Pritchard and Jay Osting, neighbors who dropped in at the home, where Priest lived as a bachelor.

Coroner Guy Clift of Des Moines was called but he decided that it was a case of suicide and no inquest was deemed necessary.

Farm worries caused by the decline of farm products and the price of lands are thought to have so worked upon his mind as to cause it to break.

Priest was the son of Joseph Priest, one of the early pioneers of the Loring neighborhood and had lived there all of his life. One brother, John Priest lives in Des Moines and another died some years ago. There are also a number of sisters.

From Nevada Evening Journal March 28, 1924 (page 8)

ILL HEALTH CAUSED SUICIDE

Chas. Priest Had Lived Near Maxwell for Many Years.

Maxwell, March 28.--Chas. Priest, for years a resident of the Loring neighborhood, committed suicide by hanging at his home in Loring sometime between Monday evening and Tuesday morning. His lifeless body was found by Thos. Pritchard, a neighbor, about 8 o'clock Tuesday morning, hanging by a rope, one end of which was inserted above the kitchen door, the noose being about four feet from the door. Mr. Priest had been in ill health for some time, which is believed to have preyed on his mind and caused him to commit the act which ended his life. He was fifty-seven years of age, was never married nd until about two years ago resided on his farm, a mile southeast of Loring. In February, 1922, he sold his farm and built a small house in Loring, where he lived until his death. He is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Henry Stratton of Collins, Mrs. Wm. Enfield of Kalona, and Mrs. Martha Luther of Kansas and one brother, John, of Des Moines.