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Surnames: Swank, Stetler
Classification: Obituary
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http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kh.2ADE/1449
Message Board Post:
"Permission granted by the Decatur Daily Democrat for
obituary transcriptions on the Adams Co., IN GenWeb site only."
Decatur Daily Democrat, Adams Co, IN; Wednesday evening, August 4, 1920
Swank A Suicide - Aged Resident of Bobo Jumped Into Cistern at His Home at Noon - Was in
Ill Health - Funeral Services Will be Held Friday Afternoon at 2:30 O'clock
Solomon Swank, well known resident of Bobo and St. Mary's township, committed
suicide this morning at 11 o'clock by jumping headfirst into a cistern.
Mr. Swank had been in ill health some time, and on different occasions had told members
of his family that at times he felt like jumping in front of fast Erie trains which passed
his home. This morning Mrs. Swank was compelled to go to the store at Bobo to get a loaf
of bread for dinner, and she left the house shortly after 10:30. She returned a few
minutes before 11 o'clock and discovered the body of her husband in the cistern.
The cistern was a small affair and Mr. Swank removed the milk and butter from a small
compartment built in the top, and evidently jumped in head-first, as there was only three
feet of water in the cistern. Coroner Clark viewed the remains and will file a verdict
suicide by drowning.
Solomon Swank was born in Ohio December 3, 1837, a son of John and Julia Stetler
Swank, and came to this county many years ago. He was a laborer, and had quite a
reputation as a sheep shearer. His age at death was 72 years, 7 months and 11 days.
Besides the wife, there are two daughters and three sons surviving.
Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from one of the
Bobo churches, the Rev. Kern of Huntington and the Rev. Stephenson officiating. Burial at
Mt. Tabor cemetery.
Note: census records indicate that Solomon was born in 1847
1900 Indiana, Adams County, St. Mary's Township; Enum Dist 10; Sheet 10B; June 23,
1900;
Ancestry.com Image 20 of 22
201/210 Swank, Sollman; head; Jan 1849; 51; md 30 yrs; OH; ?; ?; day labor
, Dortha A.; wife; Dec 1853; 46; md 30 yrs; 9/5 children; In; IN;
IN
, Irvin F.; son; March 1884; 16; IN
, Rosa Z.; dau; Sep 1887; 12; IN
, Charles B.; son; Jan 1893; 7; IN