Obituary from
Jerri Burket, Longswamp, PA

During a fit of melancholia, Simue M. Barto, aged 68, retired farmer of Dryville, Berks county, committed suicide by shooting himself through the mouth by a light caliber rifle at 3.30 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Death was instantaneous. Mr. Barto was in his 69th year. His family, greatly shocked over the man's action, is unable to assign any cause for the deed. However, it was said that during the past several weeks, Mr. Barto was given to spells of despondency, believed the result of the intense heat. Yesterday afternoon he left his house with the rifle and went to the yard in the rear of the home. The report of a shot attracted members of the family and they found Mr. Barto on the ground, bleeding from his mouth. Dr. Samuel Raker, of Kutztown, was called, but Mr. Barto was dead on his arrival. Deputy Coroner Stanley Boehm issued a certificate of death by suicide. Mr. Barto was the son of the late William and Cathrine (Merkle) Barto. He is survived by his widow, Sallie (nee Heist); four sons, Solon, at home; William, Blandon; Paul, Washington, D.C.; Ear (sic, Earl), of Bowers; five daughters, Mrs. Herbert Angstadt, Topton; Mrs. Clyde Schlegel, Breinigsville; Mrs. Brighton Bieber, Alburtis; Mrs. Howard Scheidt, Dryville, and Mrs. Paul Heist, Dryville; three sisters, Mrs. David Yoder, Boyertown; Mrs. Lydia Wanner, Dryville; Mrs. Kate Henry, New Jerusalem; seven brothers, Lewis, Sterling, Ill.; Daniel, Douglassville; Edward, Boyertown; Jeremiah, Mertztown; Wilson, Lyons; George, Kutztown, and James, Bowers, 17 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren also survive. He was a member of F.P.A. No. 1014, Alburtis, and of Tox-E-Lox Tribe, Red Men, also of Alburtis. The funeral will be held from his late home in Dryville on Wednesday at 1.30 p.m. Further services in Mertz's church, Dryville, Rev. W. H. Kline officiating. Interment will be made in the cemetery adjoining the church.
[The Allentown Morning Call, Allentown, PA, Sunday, July 15, 1934, pages 5 & 13]