Fremont County Herald
Sidney, Iowa
December 16, 1920

The community was very much surprised and shocked Sunday to learn that D. A. Rupp had committed suicide by shooting himself with a 32 calibre revolver at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. C. Magel, where himself and wife were temporarily making their home. Mr Rupp has been almost blind for several years and lately his hearing was impaired and these two afflictions, with a number of others he was forced to endure evidently caused him to lose his mind. The sorrowing wife and children have the sympathy of the whole community.

David Alexander Rupp was born September 29, 1840 in a log cabin near West Zanesville, Ohio, and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Will Magel, south of Sidney, December 12, 1920. He was the seventh child of a family of twelve children, seven boys and five girls, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood except one boy who died in infancy.

In 1854, when fourteen years of age, he came with his parents to Muscatine,Iowa, where he grew to manhood. He with his two brothers enlisted at the first call for ninety day men to put down the rebellion but was rejected for cause.

At the age of 19, he left the farm to attend high school in Muscatine. Later he served for a time as secretary in Judge Carsheadden's office. Still later he taught school, and then for two years was grain merchant in Mammouth (sic), Illinois.

It was while at this place that he married Miss Lileah J. Farrington. Seven children were born to this union, all of whom except Mrs. Della Lindsay, who died about nineteen years ago live to join the mother in her sorrow and bereavement. The children are Eldo C. Rupp of Spirit Lake, Iowa; Harry A. of Bridgeport, Connecticut; Mrs. Edna Simons of Mound City, Missouri; Mrs. Josephine Williams of Independence, Kansas; Robert of Council Bluffs and Mrs. Elsie Magel of Sidney.

Mr. Rupp came to Fremont county, Iowa in 1894, making his home in and near Sidney ever since that time.

At the age of fifteen Mr. Rupp joined the United Brethren church in Muscatine, Iowa. Soon after coming to Fremont county, Iowa, he joined the Methodist church of Sidney by letter. The last few years he was in failing health. On account of the practical loss of his eye sight and his hardness of hearing he found the burder of life heavier than the average man is called upon to bear.

The funeral services were held from the Methodist church in Sidney, Tuesday afternoon, December 14, Rev. R. R. Moser officiating at the same. The burial took place in the Sidney cemetery.

~ Submitted and transcribed by Jerre Robertson

---