TALBOTT, Gail: Born 1887

TALBOTT, WILLARD, HUNT, GOSDA

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 3/27/2014 at 13:43:04

Gail Talbot, Manito Farmer, Is Suicide

This community was deeply shocked Monday by the news that Gail Talbott, prominent Spring Lake farmer, has committed suicide by hanging and shooting, at home west of Manito.

Monday morning Mr. Talbott had gone out doors at 7:30 o'clock to do the chores and when he did not return when Mrs. Talbott thought he should she went to the barn and there found him hanging to a rafter in the feedway of the barn.

He had first shot himself in the left side of the body with a ?? caliber rifle, the shot entering the stomach. It was believed that he had first tied the rope and placed the noose about his neck, possibly to make sure that his attempts to kill himself would be successful.

The body was removed to Abts Funeral Home in Pekin where an inquest was conducted.

James Lyons and Harry Thomas, neighboring farmers, who were called by Mrs. Talbott when she found her husband, were witnesses, also Thomas Moore, another neighbor. They told of taking down the body, and judging a note, which read: "There is no one to blame for this-only myself."

Mr. Talbott's worry over his son, Lacey Talbott, who is in the army in New Guinea, was told by several witnesses, and the verdict of the coroner's jury was "Suicide because of the absence of his son."

Funeral services for Gail Talbott were held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the Johnson Funeral Home with Rev. Charles Johannaber, pastor of the Methodist church, officiating. J.A. Seelye, soloist sang, "In the Garden" and "God Will Take Care of You." Mrs. A.F. Clarke was accompanist. The pallbearers were James Seelye, V.G. Gore, Henry Fischer, Dan Williams of Manito, Gene Priddy of Peoria and Amos Bortzfield of Pekin.

Interment was in Meadow Lawn cemetery.

Mr. Talbott was the second of four sons of O.L. and Clara Willard Talbott. He was born in Manito March 28, 1887 and spent his entire life in this community. He was a successful farmer, prominent and widely known. His marriage to Maud Hunt took place in September, 1910. He leaves deeply bereaved his widow, a son Sgt. Lacey Talbott in New Guinea, and a daughter Garnett, wife of Paul Gosda, who lives two miles southeast of Manito. Also surviving are one grandson, Gary Lee Gosda, Mr. Talbott's father, O.L. Talbott and three brothers, L.E. Talbott, and Glen and Ray of Manito.

Source: Scrapbook of Unknown Origin, Page 126