St. Joseph Gazette, Missouri, Sunday, December 5, 1880
"A Saturday Suicide"
Page 4, Column 5
John Roadmaster Procures a Pistol and Blows His Brains Out
The Act a Deliberately Planned Suicide
The Circumstances
The residents in the vicinity of Mitchell Avenue and the Missouri River were startled at noon yesterday by the sharp report of a pistol, and it was but a short time till they discovered that John Roadmaster had put an end to his life with his own hands.
From what can be learned of the affair, it seems that Roadmaster had gone to his house and blown out his brains with deliberate intend. A short time before noon, he came up town, and, going to the gun store of Batcheller & Wall, purchased a 32 calibre five-shooting pistol. Then he started towards his home, at the foot of Mitchell Avenue. He stopped at Martin Haley's saloon, on Sixth and Patee streets, and called for a glass of beer. While there, there he remarked that he intended to kill himself. Those present in the saloon, however, paid no attention to his talk, thinking it mere idle vaporings. From there he went to Mitchell Avenue, when almost home he met Maurice Kill, of whom he talked a short time. He left Kill and when a short distance away the latter saw him draw something from his pocket, which was supposed to be this watch. It was evident, however, that it was the deadly weapon with which he contemplated destroying himself that he was viewing, with much the same feeling that the victim gazes upon the serpent that charms and then poisons to death. Proceeding to the door of his house he entered the front room, in which there was no one at the time. In a few moments Mrs. Roadmaster was startled by the report of a pistol, and running into the room found her husband lying prostrate on the floor, the blood flowing from a great hole in his forehead, and a pistol lying on the floor where it had dropped from his nerveless grasp after it had performed its deadly mission. The little daughter of deceased was sent out for aid, and it soon arrived. The coroner was then summoned, a jury was called together, and an examination held, resulting in a verdict in accordance with the above facts.
While the inquest was in progress, the body of the unfortunate man lay in the middle of the floor, upon its back, and the face turned up. Covered with blood and with a ghastly hole in the forehead that one could stick three fingers into, it presented a sickening spectacle. The body was clothed in ordinary working apparel and a blue army overcoat.
Nothing is known as to the cause of the terrible deed. He left no explanation of it whatever. He had frequently expressed an intention of committing suicide after he had been drinking to excess, but had never attempted such a thing before.
Mr. Roadmaster was an old citizen of St. Joseph having lived here for nearly thirty years. He was a stone mason by trade, and was known as a hard working, industrious man, although given to drinking beer. He was a German, and was about 53 years of age. He leaves a wife and several children.
The funeral will take place this afternoon, at 2'oclock, the remains being interred in the German cemetery.
∼Served Co.G 2nd Regiment Colorado Cavalry...
Married to Anna....
who filed for benefits Sept 1890
1880 St Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri, ED 62, p. 290D (stamped), dwelling 195, family 208; T9_675; 11 Jun 1880
Mitchell Ave
"Rottmaster," John [self] 49 md W Stone mason Baum Baum Baum [likely Bayern]
----------------, Anna wife 54 md W Keeping house Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourg
Tennis, Mat stepson S 20 Tinsmith Luxembourg Lux Lux
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M66X-FYW : 13 July 2016), John Rottmaster, St Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district ED 62, sheet 290D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0675; FHL microfilm 1,254,675.
Thank you to Kent for transferring his photo over to the dup I made... Nice.. I will do more research because he was part of the Colorado 2nd who fought the Colorado Indian War...
And the Sgt. of the Regiment was Frank from here in Franktown, Colorado........
"A Saturday Suicide"
Page 4, Column 5
John Roadmaster Procures a Pistol and Blows His Brains Out
The Act a Deliberately Planned Suicide
The Circumstances
The residents in the vicinity of Mitchell Avenue and the Missouri River were startled at noon yesterday by the sharp report of a pistol, and it was but a short time till they discovered that John Roadmaster had put an end to his life with his own hands.
From what can be learned of the affair, it seems that Roadmaster had gone to his house and blown out his brains with deliberate intend. A short time before noon, he came up town, and, going to the gun store of Batcheller & Wall, purchased a 32 calibre five-shooting pistol. Then he started towards his home, at the foot of Mitchell Avenue. He stopped at Martin Haley's saloon, on Sixth and Patee streets, and called for a glass of beer. While there, there he remarked that he intended to kill himself. Those present in the saloon, however, paid no attention to his talk, thinking it mere idle vaporings. From there he went to Mitchell Avenue, when almost home he met Maurice Kill, of whom he talked a short time. He left Kill and when a short distance away the latter saw him draw something from his pocket, which was supposed to be this watch. It was evident, however, that it was the deadly weapon with which he contemplated destroying himself that he was viewing, with much the same feeling that the victim gazes upon the serpent that charms and then poisons to death. Proceeding to the door of his house he entered the front room, in which there was no one at the time. In a few moments Mrs. Roadmaster was startled by the report of a pistol, and running into the room found her husband lying prostrate on the floor, the blood flowing from a great hole in his forehead, and a pistol lying on the floor where it had dropped from his nerveless grasp after it had performed its deadly mission. The little daughter of deceased was sent out for aid, and it soon arrived. The coroner was then summoned, a jury was called together, and an examination held, resulting in a verdict in accordance with the above facts.
While the inquest was in progress, the body of the unfortunate man lay in the middle of the floor, upon its back, and the face turned up. Covered with blood and with a ghastly hole in the forehead that one could stick three fingers into, it presented a sickening spectacle. The body was clothed in ordinary working apparel and a blue army overcoat.
Nothing is known as to the cause of the terrible deed. He left no explanation of it whatever. He had frequently expressed an intention of committing suicide after he had been drinking to excess, but had never attempted such a thing before.
Mr. Roadmaster was an old citizen of St. Joseph having lived here for nearly thirty years. He was a stone mason by trade, and was known as a hard working, industrious man, although given to drinking beer. He was a German, and was about 53 years of age. He leaves a wife and several children.
The funeral will take place this afternoon, at 2'oclock, the remains being interred in the German cemetery.
∼Served Co.G 2nd Regiment Colorado Cavalry...
Married to Anna....
who filed for benefits Sept 1890
1880 St Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri, ED 62, p. 290D (stamped), dwelling 195, family 208; T9_675; 11 Jun 1880
Mitchell Ave
"Rottmaster," John [self] 49 md W Stone mason Baum Baum Baum [likely Bayern]
----------------, Anna wife 54 md W Keeping house Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourg
Tennis, Mat stepson S 20 Tinsmith Luxembourg Lux Lux
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M66X-FYW : 13 July 2016), John Rottmaster, St Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district ED 62, sheet 290D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0675; FHL microfilm 1,254,675.
Thank you to Kent for transferring his photo over to the dup I made... Nice.. I will do more research because he was part of the Colorado 2nd who fought the Colorado Indian War...
And the Sgt. of the Regiment was Frank from here in Franktown, Colorado........
St. Joseph Gazette, Missouri, Sunday, December 5, 1880
"A Saturday Suicide"
Page 4, Column 5
John Roadmaster Procures a Pistol and Blows His Brains Out
The Act a Deliberately Planned Suicide
The Circumstances
The residents in the vicinity of Mitchell Avenue and the Missouri River were startled at noon yesterday by the sharp report of a pistol, and it was but a short time till they discovered that John Roadmaster had put an end to his life with his own hands.
From what can be learned of the affair, it seems that Roadmaster had gone to his house and blown out his brains with deliberate intend. A short time before noon, he came up town, and, going to the gun store of Batcheller & Wall, purchased a 32 calibre five-shooting pistol. Then he started towards his home, at the foot of Mitchell Avenue. He stopped at Martin Haley's saloon, on Sixth and Patee streets, and called for a glass of beer. While there, there he remarked that he intended to kill himself. Those present in the saloon, however, paid no attention to his talk, thinking it mere idle vaporings. From there he went to Mitchell Avenue, when almost home he met Maurice Kill, of whom he talked a short time. He left Kill and when a short distance away the latter saw him draw something from his pocket, which was supposed to be this watch. It was evident, however, that it was the deadly weapon with which he contemplated destroying himself that he was viewing, with much the same feeling that the victim gazes upon the serpent that charms and then poisons to death. Proceeding to the door of his house he entered the front room, in which there was no one at the time. In a few moments Mrs. Roadmaster was startled by the report of a pistol, and running into the room found her husband lying prostrate on the floor, the blood flowing from a great hole in his forehead, and a pistol lying on the floor where it had dropped from his nerveless grasp after it had performed its deadly mission. The little daughter of deceased was sent out for aid, and it soon arrived. The coroner was then summoned, a jury was called together, and an examination held, resulting in a verdict in accordance with the above facts.
While the inquest was in progress, the body of the unfortunate man lay in the middle of the floor, upon its back, and the face turned up. Covered with blood and with a ghastly hole in the forehead that one could stick three fingers into, it presented a sickening spectacle. The body was clothed in ordinary working apparel and a blue army overcoat.
Nothing is known as to the cause of the terrible deed. He left no explanation of it whatever. He had frequently expressed an intention of committing suicide after he had been drinking to excess, but had never attempted such a thing before.
Mr. Roadmaster was an old citizen of St. Joseph having lived here for nearly thirty years. He was a stone mason by trade, and was known as a hard working, industrious man, although given to drinking beer. He was a German, and was about 53 years of age. He leaves a wife and several children.
The funeral will take place this afternoon, at 2'oclock, the remains being interred in the German cemetery.
∼Served Co.G 2nd Regiment Colorado Cavalry...
Married to Anna....
who filed for benefits Sept 1890
1880 St Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri, ED 62, p. 290D (stamped), dwelling 195, family 208; T9_675; 11 Jun 1880
Mitchell Ave
"Rottmaster," John [self] 49 md W Stone mason Baum Baum Baum [likely Bayern]
----------------, Anna wife 54 md W Keeping house Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourg
Tennis, Mat stepson S 20 Tinsmith Luxembourg Lux Lux
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M66X-FYW : 13 July 2016), John Rottmaster, St Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district ED 62, sheet 290D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0675; FHL microfilm 1,254,675.
Thank you to Kent for transferring his photo over to the dup I made... Nice.. I will do more research because he was part of the Colorado 2nd who fought the Colorado Indian War...
And the Sgt. of the Regiment was Frank from here in Franktown, Colorado........
"A Saturday Suicide"
Page 4, Column 5
John Roadmaster Procures a Pistol and Blows His Brains Out
The Act a Deliberately Planned Suicide
The Circumstances
The residents in the vicinity of Mitchell Avenue and the Missouri River were startled at noon yesterday by the sharp report of a pistol, and it was but a short time till they discovered that John Roadmaster had put an end to his life with his own hands.
From what can be learned of the affair, it seems that Roadmaster had gone to his house and blown out his brains with deliberate intend. A short time before noon, he came up town, and, going to the gun store of Batcheller & Wall, purchased a 32 calibre five-shooting pistol. Then he started towards his home, at the foot of Mitchell Avenue. He stopped at Martin Haley's saloon, on Sixth and Patee streets, and called for a glass of beer. While there, there he remarked that he intended to kill himself. Those present in the saloon, however, paid no attention to his talk, thinking it mere idle vaporings. From there he went to Mitchell Avenue, when almost home he met Maurice Kill, of whom he talked a short time. He left Kill and when a short distance away the latter saw him draw something from his pocket, which was supposed to be this watch. It was evident, however, that it was the deadly weapon with which he contemplated destroying himself that he was viewing, with much the same feeling that the victim gazes upon the serpent that charms and then poisons to death. Proceeding to the door of his house he entered the front room, in which there was no one at the time. In a few moments Mrs. Roadmaster was startled by the report of a pistol, and running into the room found her husband lying prostrate on the floor, the blood flowing from a great hole in his forehead, and a pistol lying on the floor where it had dropped from his nerveless grasp after it had performed its deadly mission. The little daughter of deceased was sent out for aid, and it soon arrived. The coroner was then summoned, a jury was called together, and an examination held, resulting in a verdict in accordance with the above facts.
While the inquest was in progress, the body of the unfortunate man lay in the middle of the floor, upon its back, and the face turned up. Covered with blood and with a ghastly hole in the forehead that one could stick three fingers into, it presented a sickening spectacle. The body was clothed in ordinary working apparel and a blue army overcoat.
Nothing is known as to the cause of the terrible deed. He left no explanation of it whatever. He had frequently expressed an intention of committing suicide after he had been drinking to excess, but had never attempted such a thing before.
Mr. Roadmaster was an old citizen of St. Joseph having lived here for nearly thirty years. He was a stone mason by trade, and was known as a hard working, industrious man, although given to drinking beer. He was a German, and was about 53 years of age. He leaves a wife and several children.
The funeral will take place this afternoon, at 2'oclock, the remains being interred in the German cemetery.
∼Served Co.G 2nd Regiment Colorado Cavalry...
Married to Anna....
who filed for benefits Sept 1890
1880 St Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri, ED 62, p. 290D (stamped), dwelling 195, family 208; T9_675; 11 Jun 1880
Mitchell Ave
"Rottmaster," John [self] 49 md W Stone mason Baum Baum Baum [likely Bayern]
----------------, Anna wife 54 md W Keeping house Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourg
Tennis, Mat stepson S 20 Tinsmith Luxembourg Lux Lux
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M66X-FYW : 13 July 2016), John Rottmaster, St Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district ED 62, sheet 290D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0675; FHL microfilm 1,254,675.
Thank you to Kent for transferring his photo over to the dup I made... Nice.. I will do more research because he was part of the Colorado 2nd who fought the Colorado Indian War...
And the Sgt. of the Regiment was Frank from here in Franktown, Colorado........
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Co. G, 2nd Colorado Cavalry
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