J.C. Loofbourrow: suicide

LOOFBOURROW, DAY

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 4/5/2014 at 05:34:53

--Mr. James Loofourrow and his son-in-law Mr. O.L. Day, of Cedar township, were visitors at our office, Monday. Mr. Loofbourrow is the father of the late J.C. Loofbourrow, the young man who recently committed suicide, mention of which was made in these columns last week. There were some inaccuracies in the published reports as to what the young man said in the note he left, and of his doings the morning of the day he took his life. He had not been out of the field at work the forenoon of the tragedy, as we stated, nor did he ask for the gun as was given out. His health began to fail during the month of July and was poor when he started to school at Mt. Pleasant. His teacher, Mr. Howe, held him in high estimation and only a few days previous to his death wrote him a kind letter, full of encouragement, which Carl answered. These letters we perused Monday. Evidence is conclusive that bad physical health brought on the insane despondency that caused the suicidal act. The sorrowing father last Monday brought to our office the slate and the message from Carl just as he had written it and which was found at his side with the empty carbolic acid bottle when his body was discovered in the attice of the parential residence,a nd we here give the exact copy of it.

"YOUR SON CARL:
Realizing that I was of no earthly good and that I was going to break my dear beloved parents up on account of my not knowing how to take care of things, I have attempted suicide-carbolic acid. Dump me in the gutter and have Joe come home immediately; if not some one will take everything you have.
J.C. LOOFBOURROW.

I am not worth burying. Let me lie and rot as you would a chicken."

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogicial Society Obituary Book, Page 379, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA