Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Root, Alfred A. July 29, 1934
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Pat Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net May 12, 2020, 5:34 pm

Lake Odessa Wave & Times-Aug. 2, 1934

PROMINENT FARMER TAKE LIFE SUNDAY
Alfred Root Despondent Over Ill health Resorts To hanging. Leaves Widow and One 
Daughter.

A great surprise shocked the friends of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Root, Sunday evening,
when it was learned that Mr. Root had hung himself in his barn. Immediately everyone asked.
"What made him do it?" Only one answer is heard and it is, ill health. It is said Mr. Root
had been suffering for sometime with stomach trouble and when advised to give up work, have a
sale and leave the farm, he brooded over the matter until he decided to end his troubles
in his own way.

Mr. Root left the house to go to the  bean field, he said, not returning after an
hour's absence his wife, Mrs. Josephine Root, 57, went to the barn and discovered his
lifeless body hanging from a rafter. She cut his body down with a butcher knife, but life was
extinct.

He had taken a quarter inch rope used to release a trip on the hay loader, threw it
over a rafter, made a slip noose and placing it around his neck got onto the wagon rack and
slipped off. Mrs. Root ran to Frank Foght's, a near neighbor, and gave the alarm.

Coroner Orren Stone, Sheriff Herbert A. Ross and deputy William Gardner were called
but deemed an inquest unnecessary.

Mr. and Mrs. Root lived alone. A daughter Mrs.Frank Ryskamn resides in Grand Rapids.
Two brothers Austin Root of near here and Clarence of Coleman survive.

Mr. Root was a lifelong resident here, residing on the farm upon which he was born,
being previously owned by his father Henry Root. He was 68 years of age. He was advised to
make a sale and leave the farm, thus living amore quiet life. Being of an
industrious nature, he could not entertain the idea of giving up activity and parting with 
the things that meant life to him.

He was a prominent member of the I.O.O.F.  and Rebekah lodges, always greatly
enjoyed the social affairs of these lodges.He and his wife never failed in helping any
feature of work of these organizations.

The funeral was very largely attended at the Congregation church Wednesday
afternoon. Rev. George J. Start officiated. A male quartette composed of Messrs George F. Kart,
Merlin G. Morgan, William Chipchase and Stanley W. Dann, accompanied by Morley
Hough, furnished the music. The bearers were Emerson Bindeleider, Clarence Culp, William 
Hansbarger, Ira Curtis, Joseph Classic and Barney Oatley.

Burial was at Lakeside cemetery.

Additional Comments:
Lakeside cem-#1-131

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