Query / includes Obituary - Richard Preston of Cairo, Illinois
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Query / includes Obituary - Richard Preston of Cairo, Illinois
Thanks to the partial transcription of Jonesboro Illinois death notice for Richard Preston (by volunteer Darrell Dexter - on rootsweb - ilgssi) I was able to request microfilm for Cairo Citizen (local paper) and the full acct in Jonesboro Gazette both in December 1896. The newspapers were provided to me here by interlibrary loan from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. My thanks to the library and Mr. Dexter for this great help.
Richard Preston obituary follows - I would like to hear from anyone with further information on this individual or his family in southern Illinois.
The Cairo Citizen Thurs. Dec. 10, 1896 Cairo Illinois
TOOK HIS OWN LIFE
RICHARD Preston, ROAD SUPERVISOR FOR THE Illinois CENTRAL COMMITS SUICIDE
Richard Preston, road supervisor for the Illinois Central railroad, committed suicide early Monday morning. He arose at 4:30 o'clock, as if to go to work as usual. And stretching himself on a lounge, pressed a pistol against his right temple and fired, death resulting instantly.
Deceased was 52 years of age. His duties required him to arise before day every morning, and he did not return from his work until eleven o'clock at night. Last summer he received a sunstroke from which he never fully recovered. He was also troubled with rheumatism. His great dread was to become a burden upon others, and the long hours and his failing health caused him to become very despondent. He left a note to his family in which was this injunction regarding his burial: "Tim, I want you to get six men and pay them two dollars each and take me out on the suburban tomorrow morning and put me in a plain box, and no other person to see the last of Dick. I have everything on clean and I want to be buried just as I am."
He was a Mason and the order conducted the funeral exercises.
Jonesboro (Union Co.) Illinois)
Jonesboro Gazette Dec 12, 1896
--The news that Richard Preston, the I.C. railroad supervisor, had committed suicide by shooting himself at his home in Cairo, was received here with surprise. The deed was committed Monday morning about 4:30 o'clock by shooting himself with a 32 calibre revolver. Mr. Preston was very well known here and had many friends at this point. The cause of the rash act is said to be sickness and over work. W. Whalen has been promoted to supervisor to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Richard Preston. The company has made a good selection and have the right man in the right place, as Mr. Whalen has the experience and is an all around railroader."
Richard Preston obituary follows - I would like to hear from anyone with further information on this individual or his family in southern Illinois.
The Cairo Citizen Thurs. Dec. 10, 1896 Cairo Illinois
TOOK HIS OWN LIFE
RICHARD Preston, ROAD SUPERVISOR FOR THE Illinois CENTRAL COMMITS SUICIDE
Richard Preston, road supervisor for the Illinois Central railroad, committed suicide early Monday morning. He arose at 4:30 o'clock, as if to go to work as usual. And stretching himself on a lounge, pressed a pistol against his right temple and fired, death resulting instantly.
Deceased was 52 years of age. His duties required him to arise before day every morning, and he did not return from his work until eleven o'clock at night. Last summer he received a sunstroke from which he never fully recovered. He was also troubled with rheumatism. His great dread was to become a burden upon others, and the long hours and his failing health caused him to become very despondent. He left a note to his family in which was this injunction regarding his burial: "Tim, I want you to get six men and pay them two dollars each and take me out on the suburban tomorrow morning and put me in a plain box, and no other person to see the last of Dick. I have everything on clean and I want to be buried just as I am."
He was a Mason and the order conducted the funeral exercises.
Jonesboro (Union Co.) Illinois)
Jonesboro Gazette Dec 12, 1896
--The news that Richard Preston, the I.C. railroad supervisor, had committed suicide by shooting himself at his home in Cairo, was received here with surprise. The deed was committed Monday morning about 4:30 o'clock by shooting himself with a 32 calibre revolver. Mr. Preston was very well known here and had many friends at this point. The cause of the rash act is said to be sickness and over work. W. Whalen has been promoted to supervisor to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Richard Preston. The company has made a good selection and have the right man in the right place, as Mr. Whalen has the experience and is an all around railroader."