Review of the Nashville city directories year by year helped to piece together the life of the Wene family when they lived there.

Within a few years after Samuel arrived in Nashville from Ohio, he was followed by a number of his siblings and later his parents.

Railroad and carpentry were the main occupations of the Nashville Wene men.

Samuel Wene, Sr. worked as a law and claim agent for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and was also the last mayor of Edgefield in 1878 and 1879. In the latter part of 1879 and the beginning of 1880, the question of a union of Edgefield and Nashville was settled, and the two became one in February 1880.

Samuel Wene was listed in the 1894 city directory, but he was not listed in 1895. Instead his wife, Mary, was listed as his widow. This fact said that Samuel must have died sometime in 1894. The Nashville Public Library had a copy of his obituary from the newspaper. It gave the account of his tragic death on June 5, 1894. The obituary also had his picture.

The obituary also documented that the family had attended Woodland Presbyterian Church in Edgefield and that Samuel was buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery on Lebanon Road.

A visit to the cemetery in 1992 gave the names and dates on the other grave stones in the Wene plot where Samuel is buried. Their obituaries told a story of continuing family tragedy that was very said. The link to William Wene and Mary Ellen Pray, Samuel's parents, document thier deaths and link to Samuel's siblings.



Daily American Nashville newspaper on Wednesday June 6, 1894, on page 61

Samuel N. Wene, Sr.
Well-Known East Nashville Citizen Kills Himself.
Dies by His Own Hand in the Willcox Building
Once Mayor of Edgefield and a Councilman of the City of Nashville - Cause Unknown

Samuel N. Wene, Sr., Claim Agent for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad for the past fifteen years, committed suicide on the seventh floor of the Willcox building yesterday afternoon by shooting himself through the body in the region of the heart with a 41 caliber, double barrel derringer.

The fatal shot was fired at 2:55 o'clock - Mrs. W. H. Parkhouse, wife of the janitor of the Willcox building, was showing Rev. S. H. Chester the rooms on the seventh floor when she heard a sharp report.

Thought a Plank Had Fallen - Both Dr. Chester and she were startled by the sound, but thinking one of the men who were at work about the building had dropped a plank, Mrs. Parkhouse called down to the second floor to learn if such was not the case. She received an answer in the negative and thinking little more about the matter, unlocked the
door of a small room on the south of the buildinq to show the interior to Dr. Chester.

The Dyinq Man Discovered - As she pushed the door back and looked within she beheld the form of a man lying outstretched on his back upon the floor. The form raised to a half-sitting posture, a pair of anguished, helpless eyes looked toward her for a moment, and the figure fell back upon the floor and was motionless. A pistol lay in the corner to the right. Not a word had been spoken.

Praying For Him - His brother, John Wene, and Ed Bradley, recognizing that only a short time of life was in store for him, began praying in a low tone of voice. The wounded man heard their prayers, and turning to them, told them he was ready to die. He then spoke a few more words and finally said, "I want to see my sweet wife; send her to me." Mr. Bradley hurried to a telephone and notified Mrs. Wene to be ready to come over to town to see her husband, who was in serious condition and had asked to see her. He then started after Mrs. Wene, whom he met on the way in a buggy with Mr. Reed.

His Loving Wife Arrives - Mrs. Wene reached the room a few minutes past 5:00 o'clock. The wounded man was fast sinking but as his wife stopped at the door opening into the room and began crying bitterly he seemed to recognize her voice and, turning upon his left side, looked around. Mrs. Wene sank to her knees beside the prostrate form of her husband, and the latter feebly placed his right arm about her neck and drew her towards him. He tried to speak to her, but the words died away into an inarticulate murmur, and the arm fell inertly to his side.

Beyond Human Aid - Both physicians, realizing that the case was beyond their skill, departed, and lingering a little while longer, the wounded man breathed his last just as the hands of the clock pointed to 5:30 o'clock. His wife who had been almost prostrated by the shock, had been led away and was not present at the final moment. John Wene, Mr. Sharpe, Maj. Geddes and patrolman John Walsh and other fiends were with him to the last moment. His son, Lawrence Wene, came in a moment later, but was so overcome that he immediately retired.

A Coroner was sent for, but none being within reach, Esquire Lon Carroll responded and empaneled a jury of Inquest. Mrs. Parkhouse was the only witness examined. She testified practically as stated above. The seventh floor of the building was originally constructed with the idea of being occupied by The American as editorial and composing rooms. The eastern half of the floor is given up to a long hall, while the western half is filled up with rooms. The room in which the tragedy occurred is situated about half way across the floor at the south end. It is very small and has a window looking out on Church street, and two doors one opening at the northern, and other at the eastern end. Mrs. Parkhouse was badly frightened and, hastily slamming the door, gave the alarm.

Friends Come In - Among those who first reached the scene were Mr. Parkhouse, Ola Rude, a clerk in Maj. Geddest office, on the fifth floor, and W. Lawrence Wene, an operator in the same office. Ola Rude entered the northern door leading to the room. He saw and recognized the form upon the floor, and before Lawrence Wene, who followed him,could enter the room, he closed the door and led the young man down stairs. By this time the news that a tragedy had been enacted in the little room, had spread throughout the building1 and great excitement prevailed.

Hurrying To His Side - Mr. Parkhouse, Maj. Geddes and several others hurried to the room and took steps to aid the stricken man upon the floor. It was no other than Samuel N. Wene, and he lay in a pool of blood which flowed from a wound, two and half inches below the left nipple. Dr. Richard Douglas was summoned, and reached the unfortunate man's side a few moments after the shot had been fired. The wounded man was still alive, and Dr. Douglas began the use of every means known to surgical skill, though with but little hope of success.

Heard In The Streets - Almost before the tragedy had been comprehended in all its awful details by those within the building, the fact of the suicide gained currency on the streets and spread like wildfire. The excitement was intense. Within an hour more than 100 people visited the building and made an effort to reach the scene of the tragedy on the seventh floor. Mr. Parkhouse, however stood guard on the stairs and would allow no one to pass except the relatives and intimate friends of the dying man. The elevator boy also, had orders to carry no one beyond the sixth floor.

In The Suicide's Room - When an American reporter reached the scene he was at first denied passage to the seventh floor, but finally reached the room in which the stricken man lay. He was surrounded by Drs. Douglas and Enbe, the latter his family physician; his brother, John Wene; his son, Lawrence Wene; Edward Bradley, a life-long friend; Mr.
Sharpe. a brother-in-law, and one or two others. The wounded man was leaning on his right elbow, spitting blood and apparently suffering intensely. He seemed to recognize those about him and spoke feebly.

The Only Witness - Mrs. Parkhouse stated to the jury that she with Dr. Chester had first passed the northern door, which was unlocked at the time, and that it was while on the way from that door to the other on the inside of the hall that she had heard the pistol shot. She also stated that she had at first intended entering the northern door and thought she probably would have been just in time to prevent the shot being fired. She saw no blood on first opening the door, but at sight of the pistol the full realization that something awful had happened flashed over her. No one, except herself and Dr. Chester, she said were on the floor at the time. The jury after viewing the body and considering the evidence, returned a verdict that Samuel N. Wene, Sr. came to his death on the 5th day of June, 1894, at the Willcox building, corner of Church and High streets, from a pistol wound inflicted by his own hand." The body was then prepared for burial and taken to the home of the deceased, 100 North Second Street.

Cause A Mystery - The suicide caused a surprise which has not been equalled in this city for some time. No definite cause has yet been assigned for it, although some of the dead man's friends say it was the result of financial troubles in connection with the Bank of Commerce. Samuel Wene has been stock claim agent for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad for the past fifteen years, and few men are better know throughout the city. He was in his 45th year of ages and in the very prime of life. During recent years of his life he amassed much property. His home in east Nashville is one of the prettiest in the city. He leaves his wife, three daughters and two sons. His sons, Lawrence and Samuel M., are in the employ of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. He is a well-known Mason and Odd Fellow and belonged to other orders.

A Secret Order Member - Following are some of the lodges to which he belonged: East Nashville Lodge No-560, p., and A.M. King Cyrus Chapter No. 107, Royal Arch Masons: Nashville Council No. __, Royal and Select Masons; La valette Commandery No. 17, Masonic; Emulation Lodge of perfection of Scottish Rite Masons; A. S Marks Council, National Union; Cherokee Tribe No 21, of I. 0. R. M. and Ease Side Council No. 1475, Royal Areanum.

Sought Seclusion - The unfortunate man, it appears left his office, which adjoins the other Louisville & Nashville offices on the fifth floor, and ascended to the seventh floor by the stairway instead of the elevator This was some time between 2 and 3 o'clock. The seventh floor is unoccupied with the exception of the apartments occupied by the janitor and his wife at the north end. He wore no coat and when found was lying prone upon his back, where he had fallen after firing the shot. Mr. Wene left this city for trip down the Nashville & Florence Road last Friday and returned Monday morning. He seemed in good spirits and no one had any idea anything was wrong with him. Mr. Wene was once Mayor of Edgefield, and had also been a member of the Board of Aldermen of Nashville.


Nashville Banner on June 6, 1894

TOOK HIS OWN LIFE
Samuel M. Wene Shoots Himself Through the Breast
He Gives No Reason For the Rash Act
And the Cause is Shrouded in Mystery

A sensational and mysterious suicide occurred shortly before 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon in the seventh story of the Wilcox building, corner of Church and High streets. The case was rendered more sensational by the prominence of the victim Samuel M. Wene, Sr., Stock Claim Agent of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad.

At 2:55 o'clock Mrs. W.H. Parkhouse, wife of the janitor of the building, was on the seventh floor of the building showing Rev. S. H. Chester some rooms, when she heard the report of a pistol. She at first thought one of the workmen on the sixth floor had dropped plank, but when assured by the man on the lower floor that the noise was due to some other cause, she dismissed the matter from her mind and proceeded to show Dr. Chester some of the rooms on the floor. She passed on to a small room near the south front of the building and, unlocking the door, stepped in. She was startled to find a man in his shirt sleeves lying prostrate on the floor. There was a double-barrelled derringer pistol lying by his side. As the door opened the man raised himself to a half sitting position, looked at Mrs. Parkhouse a moment and then fell prostrate on the floor.

Mrs Parkhouse at once pave the alarm and among the first to reach the room were Mr. Parkhouse, OIa Rude, a clerk in Maj. Geddes' office, and W. Lawrence Wene. Mr. Rude entered the room first and immediately upon recognizing the form upon the floor as that of Mr. Samuel Hone, turned and stopped Lawrence Wene before he could enter.
Mr. Rude told the young man that it was his father and then led him away. Soon Maj. Geddes and others arrived and Dr. Richard Douglas was summoned and after a careful examination he pronounced the wound fatal. the bullet had entered the heart just below the left nipple. The wound bled very little externally. Dr. Enloe, Mr. Wene's family physician, was also called in and the two physicians did all in their power to relieve the unfortunate man's sufferings.

Mr. Wene's office was on the fifth floor, adjoining the office of Maj. Geddes and the other railroad officials. Mr. Wene had been in his office most of the morning. He went to dinner at the usual hour and returned shortly after 1 o'clock and worked until nearly 3 o'clock, when he got up and walking out into the hall went up the steps, leading to the top stories. The seventh floor of the building is unoccupied except the apartments used by the janitor. Mr. Wene's associates all say that he seemed to be in his usual good spirits during the day and when the news of his suicide was announced it was not only a great surprise, but a severe shock to them. The unfortunate man lived until 5:30 o'clock. He was conscious up to a few minutes before his death and talked with his friends but feebly. He told his son that he was forced to take his life, but did not tell the reasons. He also said to a friend that the Bank of Commerce had ruined him, and from those remarks, taken with other circumstances, it is thought that Mr. Wene was driven to do this deed by reasons of financial troubles.

Some time after the shooting Mrs. Wene, wife of the unfortunate man, was notified, and she reached his side a few minutes before he died. As she entered the room Mr. Wene looked at her, and when she knelt down beside him he raised his arm and placed it about her neck. He tried to speak but was too weak, and the words died away into an
inarticulate murmur.

After Mr. Wene died Justice A. M. Carroll was called in, and he held an inquest with the following jury: C. L. Fuller, T.E. Winstead, T. W. Crutcher, F. Bradley. H. A. Sanders, A. V. Winter, and J. H. Kendrick. Mrs. Parkhouse was the only witness examined, and she told how she had discovered the body. After which the jury returned the following verdict: "We find that Samuel N. Wene, Sr., came to his death on the 5th day of June, 1894, at the Willcox building, corner of Church and High streets, from a pistol wound inflicted by his own hand."

After the inquest the body was prepared for burial and taken to the family residence, 100 North Second Street. The funeral will take place at 3 o'clock to-morrow afternoon, services being conducted at the Woodland Street Presbyterian Church by Revs. R. C. Reed, B. H. Franklin and T. A. Kerley.

Mr. Wene had been Stock Claim agent of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad for fifteen years. He was known all over the country and was one of the most popular railroad men of the South. He was at one time Mayor of Edgefield and was reputed to be a man of considerable means until the recent financial depression, when he was said to have lost heavily.

Mr. Wene was a member of Fast Nashville Lodge, No. 560 F., and A. M.; King Cyrus Chapter, No. 107, Royal Arch Masons; Nashville Council, No. 1, Royal and Select Masons; La Valette Commandery, No 17, Knights Temple, Emulation Lodge of perfection of Scottish Rite Masons; A. S. Marks Council, National, Union; Cherokee Tribe, No. 21 of independent Order of Red Men; Ease Side Council, No. 1475, Royal Arcanum, and Tennessee Lodge No. 2, Ancient Order United Workmen.

The cause for the suicide is still shrouded in mystery. Maj. Geddes said he was unable to explain the matter, and that he knew no cause for the rash act. From the surrounding circumstances Mr. Wene's friends express the opinion that he was financially embarrassed to such an extent that his mind became unbalanced. He told one friend yesterday that he spent a sleepless night and was not feeling well. This was early in the morning, but the same friend saw him shortly after 12 o'clock and Mr. Wene then seemed to be as well as usual.