Decatur County Journal

June 27, l905

'DEATH OF S.Y. HARGER'

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The Well Known Auctioneer Commits Suicide in a Box Car in Chicago.

Under date of June 20th the chicago Daily Tribune contained the

following account of the death of S.Y. HARGER, a former well known

citizen of Decatur City.

"S.Y. HARGER, a cattleman of Randolph, Iowa, committed suicide yesterday

morning by hanging himself in a box car in the Erie Railroad yards.

HARGER brought four carloads of cattle to Chicago last week and after he

had sold them, according to a story he related to switchmen about the

Erie yards, he started out "to see the town" Friday night and was robbed

of $600 in a levee resort. A switchman found HARGER asleep in a box car

Sunday morning and asked him what he was doing. The cattleman then told

of the robbery."

"Why don't you go home?" the switchman asked. "I am afraid to tell them

my story. They may not believe me," HARGER replied.

He spent Sunday night in a box car and his body was found the next

morning hanging from a nail driven into the side of the car. He had

made a noose out of three old handkerchiefs. Relatives of HARGER in

Randolph were notified and a reply was received directing that the body

be shipped to Decatur, Iowa, HARGER's former home, for burial.

MR. HARGER was about 62 years old at the time of his death and had been

a resident of Decatur County for nearly a quarter of a century. He was

a native of Kentucky and served during the civil war in a Kentucky

regiment. He drew a pension of about $l7 per month. His wife died

several years ago. His children are ROY and ELASKA HARGER who reside on

a farm northwest of Decatur, MRS. CHLOE MULLEN, who lives northwest of

Decatur, and MRS. NORA CAMPBELL, of Fremont County.

MR. HARGER had followed the occupation of an auctioneer with

considerable success and was well known throughout the county. He was a

man of generous impulses and the news of his untimely death was received

with surprise and regret by his many acquaintances. He had made his

home with his son-in-law in Fremont County since last December.

The deceased was a man of genial disposition and his death by suicide is

a great surprise. The loss of the money which belonged to others

doubtless preyed on his mind and he preferred death to the ordeal of

meeting those he had unintentionally wronged. The funeral occurred in

Decatur yesterday afternoon.

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'OBITUARY'

SYDNEY Y. HARGER was born near Louis Mills, Kentucky, January 27, l844.

He enlisted in the Union Army in the 59th regiment Indiana Volunteer

Infantry, Co. A., October l0th, l86l. With his regiment he saw much

hard service during the campaigns of l862 on the Mississippi River. The

hardships he endured while in the Army so affected his health that he

never fully recovered. He was a brave soldier and served his country

faithfully and at the expiration of his term of enlistment was honorably

discharged.

He was married to MISS SALLIE A. CAMPBELL, July l8, l869. To this union

were born nine children, six of whom--three sons and three daughters,

are still living; five being in attendance at the funeral.

MR. HARGER was a genial, open hearted man, kindly disposed and usually

cheerful. He came to his death June l8, l905, by unknown causes.

His funeral was preached in the M.E. Church in Decatur on last Wednesday

and he was buried in the Woodmansee Cemetery.

A.C.H.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert

August 30, 200l