Plank, John H 1851 -1908

PLANK, NELSON

Posted By: Norman Hjelmeland (email)
Date: 9/6/2012 at 19:27:10

The Decorah Republican, Thursday, March 12, 1908

The Late J. H. Plank

John H. Plank was born Nov. 2nd, 1851, in Astoria township, Fulton Co., Ill. He went from Illinois to Missouri where he lived one year; from there he went to Allamakee Co. Iowa, where he lived about 10 years; from there he moved to Howard, where he was about 20 years. In the spring of 1896 he moved from Howard Co. to Springwater, Canoe township, Winneshiek Co., Iowa, where he lived the last 12 years. He was married 22 years ago to Miss Anna Johanna Nelson. There were born to them 10 children, all of whom are living but one little boy, which died in infancy. He leaves to mourn his loss his wife, Mrs. John H. Plank, and his children. Mrs. Marie Nelson, Christine, Mahala, Hattie, John, James, Peter, William and baby Lena Anneta, 15 months old, and three brothers, Michael Plank of Elma, Iowa; F.M.Plank of Ion, Allamakee Co., Iowa, and W.H.Plank of Wellington, Kansas, beside other relatives and many friends. He was a loving and dutiful husband and father, an industrious , honest, and upright citizen, and a kind neighbor. The deceased will be missed very much by those who are left to mourn his loss.

Submitter's note: Gravestone marker in Springwater Cemetery for John Henry Plank gives date of birth as Nov. 2, 1850

Added by Joy Moore May 7, 2019
Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Mar. 6, 1908, FP, C6

Former Howard County Man Suicides.
The citizens of Decorah and surrounding country were shocked yesterday morning when the news spread about that John H. Plank, a well known resident of Canoe township, living about six miles north of the city, had committed suicide.
For some time past Mr.Plank has been acting peculiar. He has been worrying over financial troubles, and arranged for an auction sale to sell off some things and settle up financial matters, having rented his farm. He had been in the city nearly every day the past week, and while here on Monday was seen to be crying, so that it is supposed that the worry deranged his reason, and the spell of melancholy which he has been laboring under for some time resulted in the rash deed.
During Monday night he was seen to get up and light his pipe, as he had been doing often of late, being unable to sleep well. This was the last seen of him alive. When the family arose in the morning they found his bed empty and instituted a search for him, his little boy about ten years old finding his body hanging from a rafter in the granary, where he had committed suicide during the night.
Mr. Plank was about fifty years of age and leaves a wife and nine children, six girls and three boys. He lived in Canoe township a good many years, where he was respected as an upright, industrious citizen. The sympathies of the entire community are extended to the bereaved family.—Decorah Public Opinion.

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Mar. 17, 1908, FP, C6

OBITUARY
PLANK.
John H. Plank, whose sad death by suicide we mentioned in a recent issue, was born in Fulton County, Astoria Township, Illinois, November 22, 1850, and was 58 years of age at the time of his death. From Fulton County, Illinois, he moved to Missouri, when about 16 years of age, and lived there for one year; from there he moved to Allamakee County, Iowa, remaining there eight years, after which he came to Howard County and lived here about 20 years. From here he went to Canoe Township, Winneshiek County, near Decorah where he has since resided. A wife, 9 children and 3 brothers, all of whom were present at the funeral with the exception of two brothers who were unable to attend, survive to mourn his sad death. The funeral was held at his home, with interment in Quaker Cemetery, north of his farm. The sympathy of all goes out to the sorrowing relatives in their sad bereavement.

Springwater Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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