Clyde Conley (1908-1938)

CONLEY, DONAHUGHE, NESS, DYKSTRA

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 12/23/2022 at 16:16:39

From Nevada Evening Journal April 20, 1938 (page 1)

Clyde Conley Was Found Dead In Waters of Ditch

The body of Clyde Conley, 29, young farmer, who had been missing from home seven miles northeast of Nevada since Friday morning, was found late Tuesday afternoon by Harold Hopper, in the water of an open ditch, just off the highway, on the northwest corner of the Arlie Huhn farm, northwest of Fernald.

When Hopper, who was investigating the working of the ditch discovered the body, he notified the sheriff and Mr. McGriff, knowing that Conley was missing from the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Conley, soon hastened to the scene and identified it as the missing man.

County Coroner Mills was called from McCallsburg and after examining the body and finding a watersoaked and almost illegible note which indicated conclusively that the young man had taken his own life, the body was removed to Nevada.

After satisfying himself that it was a case of suicide and that there was no evidence of violence of any kind, the coroner announced that no inquest was necessary.

According to the parents, the young man had suffered an attack of scarlet fever some weeks ago, which had left his mind in a clouded condition and he had spells of worrying at times since.

He left home about 4:30 a.m. on Friday and when he failed to return, officers were notified to keep a lookout for him and his disappearance was broadcast, but to no avail.

He had evidently left his home early Friday morning, walked across the fields directly to the scene of the tragedy and plunged into the waters of a deepening hole in the ditch. The rising waters of Saturday washed the body some distance south from where he had evidently entered the deep hole.

Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2:00 at the Bishop Funeral home, after which the body will be taken to McCallsburg for burial. The service will be in charge of Rev. C. E. Lookingbill.

Clyde was born at Grinnell, September 17, 1906 and came with his family to Story county when a small boy and this had been his home since, living at home with his parents the most of the time.

He leaves besides his parents, three sisters and one brother. The sisters are Jennie, wife of Dell Donahughe of Chicago; Pauline, wife of John Ness of Minnesota; and Grace, wife of Frank Dykstra of near Maxwell. The one brother is James, at home.

He was a young man, industrious and devoted to his family, and his tragic passing is a severe blow to his parents, brother, sisters, and his many friends.