Residents of Iowa and Nishnabotna townships were shocked and grieved Friday morning May 10, 1918, to learn that John Henry Stammer, a well known, highly respected and well-to-do farmer of Iowa township had committed suicide. The body was found in the field. He went out in the field in the morning to plant corn, and while at work took strychnine, ending his life. He had not complained of being ill, nor made any remarks that would advise his wife or anyone else that he was laboring under a mental strain. He has always been an upright citizen, and regardless of what he stated in his note found by him in the field, there has never been any reproach on his character. It seems like a sudden mental collapse, and while in such condition with the strychnine close by which he had been putting out for ground squirrels, he suddenly conceived the idea of ending all. The following note written by the unfortunate man and signed in full was found on a sack of seed corn close to his body: "Dear Wife and Children: I have ruined myself and family and feel myself out of place in this world and so will end all. Give my children a good education."

JOHN HENRY STAMMER
John Henry Stammer was born January 23rd, 1876, in Clinton county, Iowa. When a boy of 3 years he moved with his parents to Crawford County. In later years he did what very few others do in rural districts, he attended high school at Manning and took a business course at Denison. He knew the value of an education or he would not have left the words on a note - "Give my children a good education." He was married May 5th, 1904, to Miss Anna Heickson of Aspinwall. This most happy union was blessed- with two children, Caroline 13 years, and Eunice 6 years. They at first went to housekeeping in Aspinwall where the husband for four years was engaged in the lumber and grain business. Then they moved to a farm four and a half miles northwest of Aspinwall where they have lived and labored ever since, and were respected and honored by the whole neighborhood. If he had not been a man of honesty and integrity and uprightness he would not have held the office of Iowa Township clerk for fifteen years and would not have been made chairman of the Iowa Township Council of Defense and also the Liberty Loan, Red. Cross, Y.M.C.A. drives were put on his shoulders to a great extent. Unselfish and 100 per cent patriotic, conscientiously he labored for our government. He had to overcome many stumbling blocks. He felt the responsibility of his position. The burden may have seemed too heavy for him to bear and this may have been the cause of his mental collapse, which resulted in his final act Friday forenoon. He was 42 years three months and 16 days old. He leaves a wife and two children, his aged parents, Mr. and Mrs. Claus Stammer of Manning, five brothers. Fred, Albert, Edward, Louis, and Frank and one sister, Mrs. Emma Anthony to mourn.

The funeral services were held Sunday at one o'clock in the afternoon at the home conducted by Rev. H. Wendt of the Lutheran Trinity church of Manilla and was one of the most largely attended funerals ever held in that section, there being over 150 autos in the procession. Interment was made at Manning.

The bereaved wife and children and relatives have the heartfelt sympathy of the people of Iowa and Nishnabotna Township in their great sorrow.

SUICIDE OF WELL KNOWN FARMER
John H. Stammer, of Iowa Township, Taken Dose of Strychnine and Ends His Life
NO REASON GIVEN FOR THE ACT
Deceased Was Highly Respected, a Graduate of Denison Normal College - Relatives Mourn.
John H. Stammer, prominent farmer residing in Iowa Township, committed suicide Friday morning, May 10, 1918, by taking a quantity of strychnine poison while out in the field. Mr. Stammer arose early Friday morning and members of the family believed him to be in his usual good spirits. He inquired of his wife what time dinner would be ready, stating that he was going to plant corn and did not want to delay his work anymore than possible. His wife had dinner prepared by 12 o'clock and after waiting considerable time went out to the field to call him and was horrified to find him dead near the planter. A note addressed to his wife was found attached to the planter, but this gave no reason for the rash act.

Residents of Iowa Township were shocked to learn of the death of Mr. Stammer who was one of the most prominent men in that locality. He was the chairman of the defense council of Iowa Township and was ever a loyal and patriotic citizen. For the past fifteen years he held the office of township clerk.

John Henry Stammer was born January 23, 1876, in Clinton County, Iowa, and when a youth accompanied his parents to Crawford County, where he has since resided. He appreciated the benefits of a good education and after completing his studies in the rural school attended high school and later took a business course at the Denison College.

On May 3, 1904, he was united in marriage to Anna Heickson of Aspinwall and this happy union was blessed with two children. For four years Mr. Stammer was engaged in the grain and lumber business at Aspinwall, when he moved to a farm located four and a half miles northwest of Aspinwall.

He leaves to mourn his death besides his devoted wife and two children, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Claus Stammer of Manning, and five brothers and one sister, namely Fred, Albert, Edward, Louis, Frank, and Mrs. Emma Anthony.

Mr. Stammer was a devoted husband and father, kind and obliging neighbor who was ever-ready to do his duty, as he saw it. He was a quiet and unassuming man who always took a bright cheery view of life and wherever there was sorrow or sickness in the community he was there to spread the atmosphere of good cheer and good will. He was an ever-zealous worker in behalf of the defense council besides taking care of his farm of 120 acres without any aid. It is the belief of his intimate friends that overwork was the cause that brought on his untimely demise.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 1 o'clock at the family residence in Iowa Township and the remains were taken to the cemetery near Manning for interment. Nearly two hundred automobiles carried relatives and friends to the cemetery.
Denison Review, May 15, 1918