Civil War Veteran Becomes Despondent - Suicide in Alvordton, 1899 - John Taylor

Civil War Veteran Becomes Despondent – Suicide in Alvordton, 1899

By Pamela Pattison Lash

This Civil War Veteran unexpectedly ended his life, but there were telltale signs that all was not well with him.  Here’s what one can discern using this old newspaper account:

Bryan Democrat (Bryan, OH), Thursday, 26 January 1899, p5 c3

John Taylor, a resident of Alvordton, committed suicide Tuesday by hanging himself in the stable on his premises.  He had been dead for two or three hours when discovered.  No cause is assigned for the act, as he was a retired farmer in easy circumstances and his domestic relations were harmonious.  It had been noticed for some time by those intimate with him that he had lost his mental balance and was at times quite despondent.  His family consisted of his wife and an unmarried daughter; two other daughters are married.  The circumstances attending the sad affair rendered the holding of an inquest unnecessary.  The deceased was about fifty years of age.

John Taylor (1844 Fulton Co, OH – 24 January 1899, Alvordton, Wms Co, OH) was buried in Floral Grove Cemetery, Pioneer, Madison Twp, Wms Co, OH.  He was the son of Ezra Taylor and Hannah Dibble.  He married Lovina Catherine May on 1 May 1870 in Wms Co, OH. John was a Civil War vet, having served in Co H 9^th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.  He filed for a CW pension as an invalid on 31 July 1887 and his widow filed for one on 23 June 1899.

Lovina Catherine May (1852 Wayne Co, OH – 26 November 1922, Wms Co, OH) was buried beside her first husband, John Taylor.  She was the daughter of Jonas May and Elizabeth Hart.  Lovina married a second time to Edward G Frisbie on 4 October 1911, Wms Co, OH.

John and Lovina had three children – Ezra Delain, Mary Elizabeth, and Ora Mae.

Other sources for this couple are:

1850 Brady Twp, Wms Co, OH – John 4 OH with mother

1870 Madison Twp, Wms Co, OH – John 24 OH/ Lovina 18 OH

1880 Madison Twp, Wms Co, OH – John 34 OH/ Lovina 29 OH

Williams County, OH Deaths v3 p132 – res Kunkle, born Fulton Co, farmer, suicide

Williams County, OH Probate #4121 – 20 April 1900