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wliich spread over tlie city yesterday morning that the well-known and respected citizen, Stephen Lindley had committed suicide. To many, the report seemed incredible, hut Investigation showed the news to he only too true. Mr. Lindley was seemingly in his usual spir-its, when he took breakfast with his family at his home, corner of Twelfth and Ripley streets, Monday morning, nor was there anything in his actions tojndieate a suicidal Intent, when lie left the house at about 8 o'clock. This was the lust his family saw of him. Although, he did not return during the day, or evening, nothing was thought of his absence, as he had often made extended trips to his farms through the county, without informing the family before hand.Yesterday morning, the keys to the fence factory and other buildings on the premises, were missing from their usual place, and the son, Dr. C. Lindley, went to the fence factory buildiug in the rear of the lot, thinking that the keys had been left there. He was obliged to break his way in, and in the loft he discovered his father hanging from a rope. Mr. Liud-ley had taken his own life, it is probable that fully twenty-four hours had elapsed between the ttime the deed was committed and the discovery of the body, and it Is evident that Mr. Lindley sought his death deliberately. He had fastened a clothes line to a rafter in the roof of the building, while standing on a ladder, and after fixing a noose about his neck, pushed himself oH from the ladder.The cause of the rash act, was mental depression, brought on by worry over business investments. For years—in fact most of hie life, Mr. Lindley had been a speculator in various kinds of business, and always succeeded in whatever he invested in, until last October, when he bought the right to a pateQt wire fence in Scott county. For this purpose,he erected a factory, on the lot adjoining that on which his home was situated. The fence is simple in its style, composed of pickets and wire. He demoted his time to the patent, hiring four hands to assist him. Rut the investment did not prove a paying one; this worried Mr. Lindley considerably* and since the day of the accident mentioned above be has been gloomy, and on several occasions mem-bers of the family observed his moody disposition, but attributed it mainly to suffering from Injuries received from a fall recently, tbinking he would be all right when he recovered.Stephen Lindley was bom December 18, !8l8, In Washington county.Penn. His younger days were spent on his father’s farm, and when nearing manhood he served, an apprentice in the harness trade. He opened the drat harness shop in Davenport, in 1841. After successfully pursuing the business for several years, he purchased a farm in Sheridan townahip. and moved thither. Be cultivated immense tracks of land, operating several different farms at the same time, aggregating from 800 tt 1,000 acres. He amassed wealth and, in 1872, returned tt Davenport, settling at the corner of Twelfth and Ripley streets. He lived in retirement for a short time, attending to investments, but he soon began an active life acaia, He had recently purchased the old lumber yard property on Harrison street, near Fifteenth, with the Intention of starting a coal and wood yard there, at any earl}* day.He leaves a wife, three sous and two daughters; two of the sons reside away from the city. The estate includes lands in Palo Alto and Scott counties, and is valued at about $G0,000. Mr. Lindley was held as a man of strict integrity and business principals, full of energy and enterprise.Coroner McCcnrtney held an inquest, yesterday afternoon, empanfdhng a jury, composed of C- II. BelL J. G. Shorey and Henry Guos. The verdict was uthat the deceased came to his death by hanging, his own act, while laboring under abbent-tion of mind.11 The time of the funeral will not be decided upon, until relations abroad are heard from*
Newspaper Details
Davenport Weekly Gazette
Davenport, Iowa, US
Wed, May 07, 1884
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Musser P.
IA, USA 04 Oct 2019
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