Mrs. James Albee Found Drowned
(June 14, 1906)
Was a Former Resident
of Chatsworth and Well Known
While watering his team in Willow creek near Jackson Street at six o'clock this morning, John Huckins, one of the drivers for Howell's mail wagons, discovered in the middle of the stream the body of a woman. His attention was attracted toward her by the fact that her hands and arms extended above the water.
He hastily summoned Chief of Police Goodwin who notified the coroner Dr. Nicol and the body was taken to the Cobb undertaking rooms to await the decision of the coroner's jury.
The unfortunate woman proved to be Mrs. Albee [Lucretia Josephine Harber (14 May 1851 -- 14 Jun 1906)], wife of James Albee, an employee in the Mason City Brick and Tile Company plant living at 424 Jackson Street in one of the Howell's houses, and undoubtedly came to her death either through temporary derangement of the mind causing her to commit suicide or by falling off the bridge further up the stream.
As she had been acting rather queerly for the past three weeks, the supposition is that she arose and in a fit of temporary insanity waded into the hole above the ford and lay down in her watery grave, the body drifting down to the ford where it lodged because of the shallowness of the water at that point.
Roy Hall had noticed the body early in the morning as he came to his work but thought it was a log drifted on the ford and paid no attention to it.
Her husband, James Albee was notified as soon as the body was found and identified it and told of the incidents prior to the tragedy.
It was the custom of his wife to get up first in the morning generally about five o'clock and prepare the breakfast and then call him allowing him the extra rest in the morning before breakfast. She always untied the dog also the first thing in the morning but this morning she arose and he awakened at the same time but fell asleep again and overslept not waking till one of the coal wagons arrived to deliver some coal. It was soon after he heard of the sad event which crushes his heart with grief.
The deceased had not untied the dog as usual and the family and neighbors think that if the dog had been loose he would have accompanied her and she could not have drowned.
For the past two or three weeks she had been acting somewhat strangely and her daughter who was here from Thornton last week noticed the change in her mother and remarked upon it and the family had been taking more than ordinary precaution to see that nothing unusual developed.
She came here with her husband and two daughters from
Thornton March 10th last where they had lived five years on the Schumaker and Lawrence farms and Mr. Albee found employment in the Mason City Brick and Tile works.
The deceased was fifty-five years of age and besides her husband leaves a daughter, Mrs. Lilian Pearson of Thornton; a son David Albee, aged twenty-seven of Chatsworth, Ill.; and two daughters here, Mary, aged nineteen; and Ethel, aged fourteen. Prior to living at Thornton they lived in Illinois.
The body lay just west of the bridge between that and the Northwestern bridge. It was clothed in a black calico dress and shoes, though nothing seemingly had been put on her head. No marks or bruises of any kind were found on the person.
The dead woman had been in the habit of taking charge of the money of the family and purse which contained it cannot be found.
An inquest was convened at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Several witnesses among them physicians were summoned.
An empty tea cup and the bonnet of the unfortunate woman were found later today ninety-six yards west of the spot where the body was found and it is concluded that she entered the water here. The cup has been identified by the family as one of the set they have at home. She entered the water between the Great Western and Northwestern bridges, nearer the former than the latter.
The water has been measured between the place where the articles were found and the place the body lay and is found at no place to be more than three feet deep. A razor was also found lying on the table at the home. Mr. Albee says that the instrument had not been out of the case in two years to his knowledge. It is thought that Mrs. Albee planned to end her life first by use of the razor but finally chose the other method that of drowning.
Funeral services were held Saturday from the M.E. church in Thornton, Ia., and the interment was at Thornton.
The bereaved family are well known in Chatsworth where they formerly resided, and they have the sympathy of all in their bereavement and sorrow.
(June 14, 1906)
Was a Former Resident
of Chatsworth and Well Known
While watering his team in Willow creek near Jackson Street at six o'clock this morning, John Huckins, one of the drivers for Howell's mail wagons, discovered in the middle of the stream the body of a woman. His attention was attracted toward her by the fact that her hands and arms extended above the water.
He hastily summoned Chief of Police Goodwin who notified the coroner Dr. Nicol and the body was taken to the Cobb undertaking rooms to await the decision of the coroner's jury.
The unfortunate woman proved to be Mrs. Albee [Lucretia Josephine Harber (14 May 1851 -- 14 Jun 1906)], wife of James Albee, an employee in the Mason City Brick and Tile Company plant living at 424 Jackson Street in one of the Howell's houses, and undoubtedly came to her death either through temporary derangement of the mind causing her to commit suicide or by falling off the bridge further up the stream.
As she had been acting rather queerly for the past three weeks, the supposition is that she arose and in a fit of temporary insanity waded into the hole above the ford and lay down in her watery grave, the body drifting down to the ford where it lodged because of the shallowness of the water at that point.
Roy Hall had noticed the body early in the morning as he came to his work but thought it was a log drifted on the ford and paid no attention to it.
Her husband, James Albee was notified as soon as the body was found and identified it and told of the incidents prior to the tragedy.
It was the custom of his wife to get up first in the morning generally about five o'clock and prepare the breakfast and then call him allowing him the extra rest in the morning before breakfast. She always untied the dog also the first thing in the morning but this morning she arose and he awakened at the same time but fell asleep again and overslept not waking till one of the coal wagons arrived to deliver some coal. It was soon after he heard of the sad event which crushes his heart with grief.
The deceased had not untied the dog as usual and the family and neighbors think that if the dog had been loose he would have accompanied her and she could not have drowned.
For the past two or three weeks she had been acting somewhat strangely and her daughter who was here from Thornton last week noticed the change in her mother and remarked upon it and the family had been taking more than ordinary precaution to see that nothing unusual developed.
She came here with her husband and two daughters from
Thornton March 10th last where they had lived five years on the Schumaker and Lawrence farms and Mr. Albee found employment in the Mason City Brick and Tile works.
The deceased was fifty-five years of age and besides her husband leaves a daughter, Mrs. Lilian Pearson of Thornton; a son David Albee, aged twenty-seven of Chatsworth, Ill.; and two daughters here, Mary, aged nineteen; and Ethel, aged fourteen. Prior to living at Thornton they lived in Illinois.
The body lay just west of the bridge between that and the Northwestern bridge. It was clothed in a black calico dress and shoes, though nothing seemingly had been put on her head. No marks or bruises of any kind were found on the person.
The dead woman had been in the habit of taking charge of the money of the family and purse which contained it cannot be found.
An inquest was convened at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Several witnesses among them physicians were summoned.
An empty tea cup and the bonnet of the unfortunate woman were found later today ninety-six yards west of the spot where the body was found and it is concluded that she entered the water here. The cup has been identified by the family as one of the set they have at home. She entered the water between the Great Western and Northwestern bridges, nearer the former than the latter.
The water has been measured between the place where the articles were found and the place the body lay and is found at no place to be more than three feet deep. A razor was also found lying on the table at the home. Mr. Albee says that the instrument had not been out of the case in two years to his knowledge. It is thought that Mrs. Albee planned to end her life first by use of the razor but finally chose the other method that of drowning.
Funeral services were held Saturday from the M.E. church in Thornton, Ia., and the interment was at Thornton.
The bereaved family are well known in Chatsworth where they formerly resided, and they have the sympathy of all in their bereavement and sorrow.
Mrs. James Albee Found Drowned
(June 14, 1906)
Was a Former Resident
of Chatsworth and Well Known
While watering his team in Willow creek near Jackson Street at six o'clock this morning, John Huckins, one of the drivers for Howell's mail wagons, discovered in the middle of the stream the body of a woman. His attention was attracted toward her by the fact that her hands and arms extended above the water.
He hastily summoned Chief of Police Goodwin who notified the coroner Dr. Nicol and the body was taken to the Cobb undertaking rooms to await the decision of the coroner's jury.
The unfortunate woman proved to be Mrs. Albee [Lucretia Josephine Harber (14 May 1851 -- 14 Jun 1906)], wife of James Albee, an employee in the Mason City Brick and Tile Company plant living at 424 Jackson Street in one of the Howell's houses, and undoubtedly came to her death either through temporary derangement of the mind causing her to commit suicide or by falling off the bridge further up the stream.
As she had been acting rather queerly for the past three weeks, the supposition is that she arose and in a fit of temporary insanity waded into the hole above the ford and lay down in her watery grave, the body drifting down to the ford where it lodged because of the shallowness of the water at that point.
Roy Hall had noticed the body early in the morning as he came to his work but thought it was a log drifted on the ford and paid no attention to it.
Her husband, James Albee was notified as soon as the body was found and identified it and told of the incidents prior to the tragedy.
It was the custom of his wife to get up first in the morning generally about five o'clock and prepare the breakfast and then call him allowing him the extra rest in the morning before breakfast. She always untied the dog also the first thing in the morning but this morning she arose and he awakened at the same time but fell asleep again and overslept not waking till one of the coal wagons arrived to deliver some coal. It was soon after he heard of the sad event which crushes his heart with grief.
The deceased had not untied the dog as usual and the family and neighbors think that if the dog had been loose he would have accompanied her and she could not have drowned.
For the past two or three weeks she had been acting somewhat strangely and her daughter who was here from Thornton last week noticed the change in her mother and remarked upon it and the family had been taking more than ordinary precaution to see that nothing unusual developed.
She came here with her husband and two daughters from
Thornton March 10th last where they had lived five years on the Schumaker and Lawrence farms and Mr. Albee found employment in the Mason City Brick and Tile works.
The deceased was fifty-five years of age and besides her husband leaves a daughter, Mrs. Lilian Pearson of Thornton; a son David Albee, aged twenty-seven of Chatsworth, Ill.; and two daughters here, Mary, aged nineteen; and Ethel, aged fourteen. Prior to living at Thornton they lived in Illinois.
The body lay just west of the bridge between that and the Northwestern bridge. It was clothed in a black calico dress and shoes, though nothing seemingly had been put on her head. No marks or bruises of any kind were found on the person.
The dead woman had been in the habit of taking charge of the money of the family and purse which contained it cannot be found.
An inquest was convened at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Several witnesses among them physicians were summoned.
An empty tea cup and the bonnet of the unfortunate woman were found later today ninety-six yards west of the spot where the body was found and it is concluded that she entered the water here. The cup has been identified by the family as one of the set they have at home. She entered the water between the Great Western and Northwestern bridges, nearer the former than the latter.
The water has been measured between the place where the articles were found and the place the body lay and is found at no place to be more than three feet deep. A razor was also found lying on the table at the home. Mr. Albee says that the instrument had not been out of the case in two years to his knowledge. It is thought that Mrs. Albee planned to end her life first by use of the razor but finally chose the other method that of drowning.
Funeral services were held Saturday from the M.E. church in Thornton, Ia., and the interment was at Thornton.
The bereaved family are well known in Chatsworth where they formerly resided, and they have the sympathy of all in their bereavement and sorrow.
(June 14, 1906)
Was a Former Resident
of Chatsworth and Well Known
While watering his team in Willow creek near Jackson Street at six o'clock this morning, John Huckins, one of the drivers for Howell's mail wagons, discovered in the middle of the stream the body of a woman. His attention was attracted toward her by the fact that her hands and arms extended above the water.
He hastily summoned Chief of Police Goodwin who notified the coroner Dr. Nicol and the body was taken to the Cobb undertaking rooms to await the decision of the coroner's jury.
The unfortunate woman proved to be Mrs. Albee [Lucretia Josephine Harber (14 May 1851 -- 14 Jun 1906)], wife of James Albee, an employee in the Mason City Brick and Tile Company plant living at 424 Jackson Street in one of the Howell's houses, and undoubtedly came to her death either through temporary derangement of the mind causing her to commit suicide or by falling off the bridge further up the stream.
As she had been acting rather queerly for the past three weeks, the supposition is that she arose and in a fit of temporary insanity waded into the hole above the ford and lay down in her watery grave, the body drifting down to the ford where it lodged because of the shallowness of the water at that point.
Roy Hall had noticed the body early in the morning as he came to his work but thought it was a log drifted on the ford and paid no attention to it.
Her husband, James Albee was notified as soon as the body was found and identified it and told of the incidents prior to the tragedy.
It was the custom of his wife to get up first in the morning generally about five o'clock and prepare the breakfast and then call him allowing him the extra rest in the morning before breakfast. She always untied the dog also the first thing in the morning but this morning she arose and he awakened at the same time but fell asleep again and overslept not waking till one of the coal wagons arrived to deliver some coal. It was soon after he heard of the sad event which crushes his heart with grief.
The deceased had not untied the dog as usual and the family and neighbors think that if the dog had been loose he would have accompanied her and she could not have drowned.
For the past two or three weeks she had been acting somewhat strangely and her daughter who was here from Thornton last week noticed the change in her mother and remarked upon it and the family had been taking more than ordinary precaution to see that nothing unusual developed.
She came here with her husband and two daughters from
Thornton March 10th last where they had lived five years on the Schumaker and Lawrence farms and Mr. Albee found employment in the Mason City Brick and Tile works.
The deceased was fifty-five years of age and besides her husband leaves a daughter, Mrs. Lilian Pearson of Thornton; a son David Albee, aged twenty-seven of Chatsworth, Ill.; and two daughters here, Mary, aged nineteen; and Ethel, aged fourteen. Prior to living at Thornton they lived in Illinois.
The body lay just west of the bridge between that and the Northwestern bridge. It was clothed in a black calico dress and shoes, though nothing seemingly had been put on her head. No marks or bruises of any kind were found on the person.
The dead woman had been in the habit of taking charge of the money of the family and purse which contained it cannot be found.
An inquest was convened at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Several witnesses among them physicians were summoned.
An empty tea cup and the bonnet of the unfortunate woman were found later today ninety-six yards west of the spot where the body was found and it is concluded that she entered the water here. The cup has been identified by the family as one of the set they have at home. She entered the water between the Great Western and Northwestern bridges, nearer the former than the latter.
The water has been measured between the place where the articles were found and the place the body lay and is found at no place to be more than three feet deep. A razor was also found lying on the table at the home. Mr. Albee says that the instrument had not been out of the case in two years to his knowledge. It is thought that Mrs. Albee planned to end her life first by use of the razor but finally chose the other method that of drowning.
Funeral services were held Saturday from the M.E. church in Thornton, Ia., and the interment was at Thornton.
The bereaved family are well known in Chatsworth where they formerly resided, and they have the sympathy of all in their bereavement and sorrow.
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