Martin Van Ward, known as M. V. or Van Ward was a man with a promising future. He mysteriously took his own life at the rear of the Kendall State Bank of Valley Falls where he served as cashier. He was a close associate of W. T. Kemper, banking scion of Kansas City having been cashier of the Crosby and Kemper owned Bank at Valley Falls.
M. V. Ward was a member and officer of the Crescent Lodge, No. 86 I. O. O. F.
A stalwart Democrat, he served as a delgate to Kansas state conventions.
He traveled often and attended the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893.
The New Leaf, Effingham, Kansas, 27 July 1894, Fri, Page 3
Was It An Accicent.
Word was received in this city Tuesday that M. V. Ward, cashier of Kendall's bank, of Valley Falls, had shot himself. Mr. Ward arose and ate his breakfast at the usual time and went to his room in the rear of the bank, and soon a pistol shot was heard by Paxton, a merchant there, and a lady near the room, and on running in found Mr. Ward dead, shot through the temple. His accounts with the bank have been examined and everying found perfectly straight, and he personally had over $2,5000 to his credit.
At the coroner's inquest a verdict of accidental shooting was given as no cause for the act could be found.
It was talk on the streets of Valley Falls that Mr. Ward had often said he would kill himself rather than die of consumption, and he was afraid he was coming down with that disease.
Personally we have known Mr. Ward since he first entered the the bank under Crosby, who also killed himself, and a more business like man and gentleman we never met. He was respected by all who knew him, and his untimely death will always remain a mystery not doubt. Mr. Tuffs, the druggist, say there have been 18 suicides in Valley Falls in the last six years, three of whom were bankers.
M. V. Ward was a member and officer of the Crescent Lodge, No. 86 I. O. O. F.
A stalwart Democrat, he served as a delgate to Kansas state conventions.
He traveled often and attended the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893.
The New Leaf, Effingham, Kansas, 27 July 1894, Fri, Page 3
Was It An Accicent.
Word was received in this city Tuesday that M. V. Ward, cashier of Kendall's bank, of Valley Falls, had shot himself. Mr. Ward arose and ate his breakfast at the usual time and went to his room in the rear of the bank, and soon a pistol shot was heard by Paxton, a merchant there, and a lady near the room, and on running in found Mr. Ward dead, shot through the temple. His accounts with the bank have been examined and everying found perfectly straight, and he personally had over $2,5000 to his credit.
At the coroner's inquest a verdict of accidental shooting was given as no cause for the act could be found.
It was talk on the streets of Valley Falls that Mr. Ward had often said he would kill himself rather than die of consumption, and he was afraid he was coming down with that disease.
Personally we have known Mr. Ward since he first entered the the bank under Crosby, who also killed himself, and a more business like man and gentleman we never met. He was respected by all who knew him, and his untimely death will always remain a mystery not doubt. Mr. Tuffs, the druggist, say there have been 18 suicides in Valley Falls in the last six years, three of whom were bankers.
Martin Van Ward, known as M. V. or Van Ward was a man with a promising future. He mysteriously took his own life at the rear of the Kendall State Bank of Valley Falls where he served as cashier. He was a close associate of W. T. Kemper, banking scion of Kansas City having been cashier of the Crosby and Kemper owned Bank at Valley Falls.
M. V. Ward was a member and officer of the Crescent Lodge, No. 86 I. O. O. F.
A stalwart Democrat, he served as a delgate to Kansas state conventions.
He traveled often and attended the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893.
The New Leaf, Effingham, Kansas, 27 July 1894, Fri, Page 3
Was It An Accicent.
Word was received in this city Tuesday that M. V. Ward, cashier of Kendall's bank, of Valley Falls, had shot himself. Mr. Ward arose and ate his breakfast at the usual time and went to his room in the rear of the bank, and soon a pistol shot was heard by Paxton, a merchant there, and a lady near the room, and on running in found Mr. Ward dead, shot through the temple. His accounts with the bank have been examined and everying found perfectly straight, and he personally had over $2,5000 to his credit.
At the coroner's inquest a verdict of accidental shooting was given as no cause for the act could be found.
It was talk on the streets of Valley Falls that Mr. Ward had often said he would kill himself rather than die of consumption, and he was afraid he was coming down with that disease.
Personally we have known Mr. Ward since he first entered the the bank under Crosby, who also killed himself, and a more business like man and gentleman we never met. He was respected by all who knew him, and his untimely death will always remain a mystery not doubt. Mr. Tuffs, the druggist, say there have been 18 suicides in Valley Falls in the last six years, three of whom were bankers.
M. V. Ward was a member and officer of the Crescent Lodge, No. 86 I. O. O. F.
A stalwart Democrat, he served as a delgate to Kansas state conventions.
He traveled often and attended the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893.
The New Leaf, Effingham, Kansas, 27 July 1894, Fri, Page 3
Was It An Accicent.
Word was received in this city Tuesday that M. V. Ward, cashier of Kendall's bank, of Valley Falls, had shot himself. Mr. Ward arose and ate his breakfast at the usual time and went to his room in the rear of the bank, and soon a pistol shot was heard by Paxton, a merchant there, and a lady near the room, and on running in found Mr. Ward dead, shot through the temple. His accounts with the bank have been examined and everying found perfectly straight, and he personally had over $2,5000 to his credit.
At the coroner's inquest a verdict of accidental shooting was given as no cause for the act could be found.
It was talk on the streets of Valley Falls that Mr. Ward had often said he would kill himself rather than die of consumption, and he was afraid he was coming down with that disease.
Personally we have known Mr. Ward since he first entered the the bank under Crosby, who also killed himself, and a more business like man and gentleman we never met. He was respected by all who knew him, and his untimely death will always remain a mystery not doubt. Mr. Tuffs, the druggist, say there have been 18 suicides in Valley Falls in the last six years, three of whom were bankers.
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