Vanarsdall - Wesley
Source: Waveland Independent Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana June 2, 1899
Coroner Ball was called to Crawfordsville Wednesday evening to hold an inquest on the body of Wesley Vanarsdall, which was found floating in Sugar Creek that afternoon. It was a case of suicide. He was 75 years old and friendless.
Source: Crawfordsville New Review, June 3, 1899
Wednesday morning some boys found the dead body of a man lying in a bayou of Sugar Creek, near the Remley Ford. Dr. Barcus was notified and when taken from the water proved to be that of Wesley Vanarsdall, a well known citizen. The body was sent to Barnhill's undertaking establishment and Coroner Ball notified. The dead man had lived in Crawfordsville for a number of years and cared for Miss Rachel Galey until her death some years ago. His wife and one child have been dead for some time and since his home was broken up he has made his home with TJ Lehr from where he disappeared Tuesday night. He was near 75 years of age and fairly well to do owning 80 acres of land near Shannondale. Those who were closest to him were not surprised at his tragic death, as they say he has been demented for some time.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 2 June 1899
The funeral of Wesley Vanarsdall took place on Thursday at 2:30 o’clock from the residence of John Galey on South Washington Street. The interment was at the Masonic Cemetery.
Coroner Ball arrived from Waveland Wednesday afternoon and held an inquest. The body was examined for marks of violence but none were found and no facts other than those published Wednesday elicited. Nothing pointing to suicide was drawn out and the coroner’s verdict will probably be that the deceased came to his death by drowning in Sugar Creek.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 2 June 1899
Wednesday morning some boys wandering along the banks of Sugar Creek a short distance below Remley’s Ford were attracted by what appeared to be the body of a man lying face downward in the shallow water of a little bayou. Without making an investigation the boys scurried away through the high weeds to the nearest house and gave the alarm. Several of the neighbors were notified of the find and one of them under the impression that Dr. Barcus was still coroner, telephoned him that a man had been drowned at Bodie Swank’s place and to come at once. Dr. Barcus, thinking that medical assistance was wanted, hastened to the place and found a group of men, women and children sitting on the creek bank staring stolidly at what appeared to be a pile of old clothes lying in the creek. No one had touched the mass so gruesome and mysterious, but all awaited the coming of the coroner. Some even were disinclined to believe the thing the body of a man and thought the water soaked bulk to be the cast off clothes of some fellow enriched by plundering some closet. When Dr. Barcus reached the spot he threw a few rails out to the body, and as the water was only seven or eight inches deep he was soon able to walk out and pull the body out of the water. When the ghastly thing was turned over he at once recognized the body as that of Wesley Vanarsdall. Undertaker Barnhill was notified to come and get the remains and he notified Coroner Ball at Waveland. Dr. Ball came up Wednesday evening and held his inquest. Dr. Barcus made no examination of the body to determine the manner of death. He drew the watch from the vest pocket and found that it had stopped at half past four o’clock. It had been stopped evidently by the water and the time was either Tuesday afternoon or next morning. In the vest pockets were also found a number of newspaper clippings and a grocery bill from D. L. Lee.
Mr. Vanarsdall was about seventy five years of age and had lived in this county practically all his life, being raised near Shannondale. He was married a number of years ago and his wife and their one child are buried in the Masonic Cemetery. For the past four years he had roomed at the residence of T. J. Lehr, on East Main Street, and had boarded at the Reiman Restaurant.
Mrs. Lehr on Wednesday said to The Journal: “The last time I saw Mr. Vanarsdall was on Monday evening. He sat here on the front porch for quite a while and complained of being very sleepy. He made no movement to go to bed, however, but kept on complaining, so I finally suggested that he go upstairs. He seemed to think the idea was a good one and went upstairs. Yesterday morning he was gone. The front door was left open and I have no idea what time he left the house. He did not come back during the day to feed his horse and this made me wonder, as he never did such a thing before. He left no letters here and all his things are carefully locked up. He had been somewhat unbalanced at times, I think, and acted strangely.”
The deceased was formerly a farmer and leaves a farm of eighty acres near Shiloh Church besides other property. Many people had noticed his strange conduct during the last year and the general belief is that he committed suicide. A few days ago he walked out to the home of James Robbins attired in arctic overshoes and generally equipped for winter although the day was oppressively warm.
It developed later on Wednesday that Mr. Vanarsdall must have met his death early Tuesday. David Remley states that about noon Tuesday he passed the place where the body was found and noticed it lying in the creek. He paid but little attention to it, however, thinking it was the body of a mule which had died a day or so before near the spot. It seems that the body was first discovered as the body of a man by George Smith, who passed along shortly before the company of boys. Mr. Smith at once gave notice.
Mr. Vanarsdall has a half brother living in Indianapolis and a half sister in Kansas - thanks to "S"