Mathews, James 1822 – 1901

MATHEWS, MATTHEWS

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/19/2020 at 15:45:30

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer May 17, 1901, FP, C7

Suicide Near Plymouth Rock.
Last Wednesday afternoon the body of James Mathews, a farmer living in Burr Oak township near Plymouth Rock, was found by members of the family, hanging by the neck from a tree, a short distance from the house. Mr. Mathews was about 76 years old and was well known in that part of the county, where he had lived for many years. He came in from his work to dinner on Wednesday as usual, remaining a while after the meal; about 2 o’clock left the house and went to the barn, not returning to the house again. About 5 o’clock the family becoming alarmed at the prolonged absence, went in seach{sic} of him and found him hanging to a tree not over 100 feet from the house. He had procured a halter from the barn, fastened it to a limb of the tree, which was not above the reach of an ordinary sized person, stepped upon a chair and adjusting a noose about his neck, kicked the chair from under his feet. When cut down by the Sheriff and the others his feet were resting upon the ground. Blood covered his face from a wound indicted in the morning by his wife striking him with a piece of wood during a family quarrel, which we understand were not infrequent. Domestic difficulties were undoubtedly the cause of his taking his life. He leaves a widow and several grown sons and daughters. —Decorah Journal.

Transcriber’s Note: St. Agnes Cemetery indicates he was born December 25, 1822 and died May 10, 1901

Source: Decorah Republican May 9, 1901 P 2 C 3

SUICIDE NEAR PLYMOUTH ROCK
James Matthews, of Burr Oak township, an Old Man, Hangs Himself to a Tree.
Late last night Sheriff Christen receive a call to go to Plymouth Rock, near which place James Matthews, of Burr Oak township, was dead under suspicious circumstances. Taking R. F. Gibson with him to act as deputy coroner he departed soon after ten o'clock. Mr. Matthews’ home is in the southwest corner of Burr Oak and when the officers arrived they found it was a case of suicide. Mr. Matthews had been in to dinner and about two o’clock left the house, going to the barn. After some time his continued absence was noticed and a search was made, resulting in finding his body suspended by the neck from a tree, quite a distance from the house. He had taken a halter from the barn, fastened it to the tree, stood on a chair, placed the noose around his neck and kicked the chair from under him. Mr. Matthews was 76 years old, and was quite well known in the northern part of the country, having lived at Bluffton and Plymouth Rock as well as on the farm where he died.

St. Agnes Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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