Birth September 18 1856 Jones County, Iowa
Death April 20, 1918 Marion, Iowa
Burial Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion, Iowa
Son of William and Sarah Vanderbilt of New York

Mr. John Vanderbilt, a native of Iowa County, died at his home on south 4th street, Marion, at an early hour Saturday morning. His age was 61 years. His home has been in Marion 24 years. His parents were pioneer citizens of Iowa. His wife, Ruth, is a daughter of Mr. Joseph Scott, a well-known citizen of Jones County. Both families were prominent and prosperous citizens. Mr. Vanderbilt was a quiet man but esteemed by all. His wife and ten children survive him. Two sons are in the army. He was an invalid for several years, and at times despondent. Many friends will sympathies with his bereaved family.
April 23, 1918 The Marion Register

LIFE OF SUFFERING IS ENDED
John Vanderbilt Dies At His Home Here After Many Years of Illness
A second suicide in Marion within one week occurred Saturday morning, when John Vanderbilt, formerly a deputy state game warden, ended his life at his home here, with a discharge from a .22 caliber rifle. The act was due to despondency caused by continued ill health.

Mr. Vanderbilt has been an intense sufferer for a number of years due to injured to his spine received in a runaway about ten years ago. Several years ago his condition necessitated an operation in which two sections of his vertebrae were removed - an operation from which, it is said few recover. In spite of all that could be done for him, he has been an invalid ever since.

For the last half year he has been afflicted with rheumatism, which caused his limb to wither, and for several days previous to his death he had suffered an intensely severe headache, which no doubt caused him to feel that he could no longer bear his sufferings, although he never at any time intimated that he was despondent.

He arose Saturday morning at 6:30, and was dressing while his wife was making a fire in the kitchen range. In a few minutes she heard the report of a rifle, and rushing to the room, found him sitting on a chair with the discharged weapon in his hands. The bullet had crashed into his left temple, rendering him unconscious, although he did not die instantly.

Mr. Vanderbilt was born in Jones County and was 61 years of age. He has lived in Marion for the past 24 years, although he was not located here permanently during the time he served as deputy game warden. He was a carpenter and contractor by occupation, and has worked at his trade until his health prevented. He had spent the last year with his brother in Grants Pass, Oregon, returning the early part of the winter.

Besides his wife he is survived by ten children, two of whom had recently enlisted in the army. They are Floyd, of Camp Logan, Texas; Lester of Camp Sherman, Ohio; Joe, Arthur, and William, of Mechanicsville, Iowa; Herman of Tama, Iowa; Ira of Johnstown, Nebraska, Mrs. Jessie Ferguson, of Martelle, Iowa; Ray and Miss Neva of Marion. He is also survived by a brother, William Vanderbilt of Grants Pass, Oregon, and two sisters, Mrs. Henry Zimmerman of Cedar Rapids, and Mrs. Ella Scott, of Culbertson, Nebraska.

The funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the family home, 410 Fourth Street, with the Rev. A.H. Hanscom of the Methodist Church in charge. Burial was made in Oak Shade Cemetery.
April 25, 1918 The Marion Sentinel

Note: The Vanderbilt family lived in Manning, Iowa, for a period of time as several of their children were born in Manning.