Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Pettee, W. N. 1879
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Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net August 18, 2014, 6:45 pm

Belding Home News, 4 Dec 1879

Suicide of W.N. Pettee.

On Friday morning, Nov. 28, our village was shocked by the announcement that
W.N. Pettee, banker at this place, had shot himself sometime during the previous
night, and was then a corpse in his bed.  A coroner’s inquest was held, which
rendered a verdict that the deceased came to his death by his own hand.  On
Thursday evening there was a Thanksgiving supper at his residence, and until a
late hour in the evening he conversed with members of the family, although he
retired early, having been very much indisposed since a ride to Greenville on
Tuesday.  On Friday morning his room was visited several times by members of the
family, but was found, as they supposed, asleep.  Persons called, having urgent
business with Mr. Pettee, and the family thought to arouse him, when he was
found dead in his bed.

The alarm was given, and several persons at once entered the apartment.  The
window shutters were thrown open, and there lay the lifeless form of Mr. Pettee.
 He was bolstered up in his bed, his hands lying across the lower part of his
breast, while under his left hand lay a medium-sized revolver which was
evidently the messenger of death.  Around his head and shoulders was a mass of
clotted blood.  He had evidently held the muzzle of the revolver against the top
of his head, as the ball penetrated his skull and probably lodged in the region
of the neck.  The deed was doubtless premeditated, and the probabilities of
self-destruction had brooded over his mind for several months.  At one time he
mentioned to his family that he often took a walk down to the pond, and that as
the logs were at times slippery there was some danger of falling into the river,
and if he ever came up missing they might know quite well where he was.  He also
told them that he had a presentiment that he would not live through the coming
winter.  On Tuesday, while in Greenville, he purchased a broadcloth suit, and
his talk regarding them when at home in the evening was strange, and indicated
some horrid night-mare that was hovering over his spirit.  He evidently was
under a fearful apprehension of a coming calamity which took upon itself the
type of insanity.

Mr. Pettee was born at Rochester Jan. 14th, 1831, and hence was past 48 years of
age.  His parents settled at Flint when he was 14 years of age, and here he grew
up to manhood and married Miss Jane E. Church.  About 15 years ago he became a
citizen of Greenville, and for years was a prominent and influential citizen. 
He was first president of the village board, and was for 10 years justice of the
peace.  About 5 years ago his wife died.  Two years since he, open the banking
house here.  He was a man of fine feeling and good acquirements, and had only
one weakness, which we may well cover with the broad mantle of charity.  He
always looked upon this weakness as a disease.  His physicians once prescribed
for him bourbon, and lately he was want to say that by this prescription he
cured one disease he contracted another and a worse one.  He leaves a brother,
Geo. M. Pettee of Cleveland, a deeply-afflicted mother, Mrs. A.S. Johnson of
Detroit, and three affectionate daughters to mourn his loss.  Also a
mother-in-law, Mrs. M.E. Church, who has long resided in the family and mourns
in common with those of nearer kin.  Mr. Pettee was a member of St. Paul’s
Episcopal Church of Greenville.  His life was insured in several companies,
including the A.O.U.W. at this place, and he was a member of Greenville Lodge
No. 196 F&AM.  He was buried under the auspices of the above lodge at Greenville
on Sunday last.


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