Madison Weekly Herald
22 Sep 1880
Suicide
John H. Baker, son of Mr. Wm. H. Baker, and brother of Mr. W.L. Baker, of this city, who lived on the cross-road between George's woods, on Shun pike, and the Michigan road, near Crown Point School-house, committed suicide on Monday morning last by hanging. The body was discovered about noon, and was then cold and stiff. The particulars of the said affair are very brief, and no cause can be resigned by the suicide's relations or friends for the rash act. The deceased was 31 years of age, was unmarried, and lived upon a farm of his own, adjoining that of his father. The work about his house was done by his sisters, and when one of them went during the morning to perform the usual labor, she found a note pinned to the door, informing her that she would find the body hanging in the barn. The alarm was at once given, and responded to by the young man's father and workmen upon the farm. The body was cut down by the father and intelligence sent to Coroner Matthews, who immediately repaired to the scene of the tragedy and held an inquest. The testimony of several parties was taken, but as before stated, nothing positive as to the cause of the death was elicited. The father testified that deceased was naturally of a melancholy disposition, and that, although he owned and lived upon his own property, he was a "home-boy", and was tired of living by himself. This was about the only material statement made to the Coroner.
The preparations made by the deceased for his self-execution seem to have been very deliberate. He wrapped a woolen jacket around his neck, and placed the rope over it. He then climbed upon the hay to a bean in the barn, and having fastened one end of the rope securely, simply let himself slide down the hay-mow, and in this way strangled himself.
The following note--unsigned, written on a portion of one of the handbills for the late jubilee at George's woods--was found in the suicide's pocket:
"Papa and mamma, forgive me for the rash act. It is something I have considered for a long time; now I am worse, and feel worse than ever. It is my own act, and you folks can't help it. It was brought on by myself. So, good-bye all. I want the place deeded between Lory and Joe and the girls. So, good-bye to all.
The funeral occurred yesterday afternoon, and was largely attended, the greatest sympathy being felt and expressed for the sorrowing parents, sisters, and brothers.
22 Sep 1880
Suicide
John H. Baker, son of Mr. Wm. H. Baker, and brother of Mr. W.L. Baker, of this city, who lived on the cross-road between George's woods, on Shun pike, and the Michigan road, near Crown Point School-house, committed suicide on Monday morning last by hanging. The body was discovered about noon, and was then cold and stiff. The particulars of the said affair are very brief, and no cause can be resigned by the suicide's relations or friends for the rash act. The deceased was 31 years of age, was unmarried, and lived upon a farm of his own, adjoining that of his father. The work about his house was done by his sisters, and when one of them went during the morning to perform the usual labor, she found a note pinned to the door, informing her that she would find the body hanging in the barn. The alarm was at once given, and responded to by the young man's father and workmen upon the farm. The body was cut down by the father and intelligence sent to Coroner Matthews, who immediately repaired to the scene of the tragedy and held an inquest. The testimony of several parties was taken, but as before stated, nothing positive as to the cause of the death was elicited. The father testified that deceased was naturally of a melancholy disposition, and that, although he owned and lived upon his own property, he was a "home-boy", and was tired of living by himself. This was about the only material statement made to the Coroner.
The preparations made by the deceased for his self-execution seem to have been very deliberate. He wrapped a woolen jacket around his neck, and placed the rope over it. He then climbed upon the hay to a bean in the barn, and having fastened one end of the rope securely, simply let himself slide down the hay-mow, and in this way strangled himself.
The following note--unsigned, written on a portion of one of the handbills for the late jubilee at George's woods--was found in the suicide's pocket:
"Papa and mamma, forgive me for the rash act. It is something I have considered for a long time; now I am worse, and feel worse than ever. It is my own act, and you folks can't help it. It was brought on by myself. So, good-bye all. I want the place deeded between Lory and Joe and the girls. So, good-bye to all.
The funeral occurred yesterday afternoon, and was largely attended, the greatest sympathy being felt and expressed for the sorrowing parents, sisters, and brothers.
Madison Weekly Herald
22 Sep 1880
Suicide
John H. Baker, son of Mr. Wm. H. Baker, and brother of Mr. W.L. Baker, of this city, who lived on the cross-road between George's woods, on Shun pike, and the Michigan road, near Crown Point School-house, committed suicide on Monday morning last by hanging. The body was discovered about noon, and was then cold and stiff. The particulars of the said affair are very brief, and no cause can be resigned by the suicide's relations or friends for the rash act. The deceased was 31 years of age, was unmarried, and lived upon a farm of his own, adjoining that of his father. The work about his house was done by his sisters, and when one of them went during the morning to perform the usual labor, she found a note pinned to the door, informing her that she would find the body hanging in the barn. The alarm was at once given, and responded to by the young man's father and workmen upon the farm. The body was cut down by the father and intelligence sent to Coroner Matthews, who immediately repaired to the scene of the tragedy and held an inquest. The testimony of several parties was taken, but as before stated, nothing positive as to the cause of the death was elicited. The father testified that deceased was naturally of a melancholy disposition, and that, although he owned and lived upon his own property, he was a "home-boy", and was tired of living by himself. This was about the only material statement made to the Coroner.
The preparations made by the deceased for his self-execution seem to have been very deliberate. He wrapped a woolen jacket around his neck, and placed the rope over it. He then climbed upon the hay to a bean in the barn, and having fastened one end of the rope securely, simply let himself slide down the hay-mow, and in this way strangled himself.
The following note--unsigned, written on a portion of one of the handbills for the late jubilee at George's woods--was found in the suicide's pocket:
"Papa and mamma, forgive me for the rash act. It is something I have considered for a long time; now I am worse, and feel worse than ever. It is my own act, and you folks can't help it. It was brought on by myself. So, good-bye all. I want the place deeded between Lory and Joe and the girls. So, good-bye to all.
The funeral occurred yesterday afternoon, and was largely attended, the greatest sympathy being felt and expressed for the sorrowing parents, sisters, and brothers.
22 Sep 1880
Suicide
John H. Baker, son of Mr. Wm. H. Baker, and brother of Mr. W.L. Baker, of this city, who lived on the cross-road between George's woods, on Shun pike, and the Michigan road, near Crown Point School-house, committed suicide on Monday morning last by hanging. The body was discovered about noon, and was then cold and stiff. The particulars of the said affair are very brief, and no cause can be resigned by the suicide's relations or friends for the rash act. The deceased was 31 years of age, was unmarried, and lived upon a farm of his own, adjoining that of his father. The work about his house was done by his sisters, and when one of them went during the morning to perform the usual labor, she found a note pinned to the door, informing her that she would find the body hanging in the barn. The alarm was at once given, and responded to by the young man's father and workmen upon the farm. The body was cut down by the father and intelligence sent to Coroner Matthews, who immediately repaired to the scene of the tragedy and held an inquest. The testimony of several parties was taken, but as before stated, nothing positive as to the cause of the death was elicited. The father testified that deceased was naturally of a melancholy disposition, and that, although he owned and lived upon his own property, he was a "home-boy", and was tired of living by himself. This was about the only material statement made to the Coroner.
The preparations made by the deceased for his self-execution seem to have been very deliberate. He wrapped a woolen jacket around his neck, and placed the rope over it. He then climbed upon the hay to a bean in the barn, and having fastened one end of the rope securely, simply let himself slide down the hay-mow, and in this way strangled himself.
The following note--unsigned, written on a portion of one of the handbills for the late jubilee at George's woods--was found in the suicide's pocket:
"Papa and mamma, forgive me for the rash act. It is something I have considered for a long time; now I am worse, and feel worse than ever. It is my own act, and you folks can't help it. It was brought on by myself. So, good-bye all. I want the place deeded between Lory and Joe and the girls. So, good-bye to all.
The funeral occurred yesterday afternoon, and was largely attended, the greatest sympathy being felt and expressed for the sorrowing parents, sisters, and brothers.
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