Ringer A. Sillverthorn 1853-1907

SILVERTHORN, BROWN, HALE

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 10/26/2024 at 06:55:09

The Wapello Republic, Columbus Junction, IA
Thursday, May 16, 1907
Page 1

This community was greatly shocked Sunday by a telegram announcing the sudden death of Ringer A. Silverthorn, at Kearney, Nebraska, where he was visiting, en route with his aged mother, to the old home in Wapello. His brother, W. A., left that evening and arrived with the remains yesterday morning on the six o'clock train, accompanied by his mother. The cause of his death was suicide, as shown on the shipping certificate. A bullet hole through his head just above the ears, and entering from the left side, indicated that he had fired the fatal shot with his own hand. He being left handed (unreadable) domestic troubles, and it is thought by some, who were somewhat intimate with Mr. Silverthorn, that he had meditated the act for some time, though, as far as we have learned, he had never intimated such to his family or friends. Personally, Ringer Silverthorn was suave, genial, sociable, frank, friendly, open handed and open hearted with his friends, of whom he had many here and in Los Angeles, California, where he has made his home for the last twenty years or more.

He was an old Wapello boy, having spent most of his life here since he was four years of age, until he went west. He was born at Melpine, near Fairport, Muscatine county, Iowa, July 4, 1853, being 48 years, 10 months and 8 days old at the time of his unhappy death. He had evidently prospered in business in his western home where he was engaged in house furnishing, dealing especially in second hand supplies which are most profitable in that sunny climate where thousands of transients come and go each year. He visited his boyhood home last winter for several weeks and seemed to enjoy the renewal of old associations. While here he and his brother gave a banquet and old fashioned dance to the old Wapello boys and girls, which, now that he has gone linger in memory as a bright spot in the darkness.

Deceased leaves a mother, Mrs. R. V. Silverthorn, two sisters, Mrs. J. A. Brown, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Mrs. C. M. Hale, of Los Angeles, Cal., and one brother, W. A. Silverthorn, of this place. The funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church in Wapello. Iowa, Wednesday, Mary 15, 1907, at 2 p. m., conducted by Rev. Theo. Koopman. Interment in the Wapello cemetery.