Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Karrar, John June 2, 1900
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com November 25, 2016, 6:26 pm

Ionia Sentinel - Thursday, June 7, 1900

                                    "GOOD-BYE ALL"

                      Were the Last Words John Karrar Uttered.

                               BEFORE HE SHOT HIMSELF
A Carefully Prepared Suicide by an Esteemed Campbell Resident - No Cause Known 
as to Why He Killed Himself.

John Karrar, an esteemed and well-to-do Campbell farmer, killed himself early 
Sunday morning. He had carefully planned the suicide. A rifle was used to carry 
out the awful deed. 

Karrar arose early, before the other members of the household, and dressed 
himself. Going down stairs he placed his gun on the table, the muzzle about 
three inches from the edge, tied a cord to the trigger, strung it back around 
the lock, then forward where he could reach it easily. He then went to the foot 
of the stairs and called, Good-by ma, and all." His next step was to sit down 
on the floor with his forehead just above the edge of the table. Looking into 
the barrel of the gun he pulled the string. Death was instantaneous. The ball 
entered the center of his forehead.

Deceased has long been a resident of Campbell, and no reason is known why he 
should commit the deed, unless mentally effected. As far as known he was quite 
well-to-do. He had a good reputation as an industrious, hard-working man, was a 
good farmer and owned an 80-acre farm, which is clear of debt, located about 
five miles southeast of Clarksville.

One indication of the theory that he had bee preparing to take his life was in 
the fact that upon the inquest, held by L.A. Scoville, a bottle of Chloroform 
was found on his clothes, but none of it had been used. 

Another strange, incident happened last week. He took his little boy to school 
in the family carriage one  morning, and as about to leave him, gave the lad 27 
cents in money and bid home and affectionate good-bye. The little fellow 
apparently thought it strange, for although it was the last week of school he 
followed his father home and hung around him nearly all that day.

Judge of Probate Wilson only two weeks ago also received a letter from Karrar, 
saying that the will drawn by Mr. Wilson some time ago as his attorney, was all 
right, as he wanted it; and requested the judge to file it in court.

At the inquest $65 in money was found in the pockets of the dead man's clothes.

Deceased was about 56 years of age. He leaves besides his wife, two sons and 
two daughters. the funeral was held Monday and the remains interred in 
Clarksville cemetery.


Clarksville, Mich., June 4. - The funeral of John Karrar, who committed suicide 
Friday (morning by shooting himself in the forehead with a rifle, was held in 
the Congregational church in this place today. It was the largest funeral ever 
held here. Deceased was a farmer aged 60 years. He was worth about $4,000. The 
supposed cause of suicide family trouble. 
(Ionia Sentinel - Thursday, June 7, 1900 front page)



Additional Comments:
Funeral: Monday - June 1900
Clarksville cemetery

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/k/karrar33479nob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/

File size: 3.5 Kb