Decatur Herald, Decatur IL, 15 Jun 1906, pg 7

The death of Mrs. George Danforth, formerly Miss Laura Johns of this city occurred at 1 o'clock Wenesday morning at her home in Independence, Missouri. She died by her own hands, shooting herself while ill and while it is supposed, she was suffering from an unbalanced mental condition. The first message received by er brother, Judge W. C. Johns, stated that she was dead and further particulars were learned by long distance telephone. It has been known here to her family and friends that she had for years been an invalid and subject to unexpected attacks have of late been more frequent in occurrence. To these mifortunes were added two recent severe attacks of la grippe. It is probable that the despondency caused by her unfortunate and enfeebled condition temporarily dethroned her reason and caused her self destruction. The members of the family have realized that when Mrs. Danforth's physical suffering was most intense she was for brief periods not in her right mind, and while no particulars have been received, it is supposed that it was during one of these spells that she took her own life. The body will arrive in St. Louis this morning and will be accompanied by Mr. Danforth, his daughter, Miss Frances Danforth, and Mr. Paxton of Independence. S. W. Johns went to St. Louis last evening to meet the others and come with them to Decatur. They willprovavly arrive this forenoon. The funeral will be held sometime Friday. The news of Mrs. Danforth's death came as an awful shock to the family and to many firends in this city.

Mrs. Danforth was the youngest daughter of the late Dr. H. C. Johns and Mrs. Jane Johns. She was born in Decatur and was 42 years old. She had no children. Those surviving are her husband, her mother, two brothers, Judge W. C. Johns and S. W. Johns of Decatur; a sister, Mrs. Fannie J. Sedgwick of Decatur,and another sister, Mrs. Charles B. Moore, wife of C. B. Moore, the United States governor of Samoa. It will be three weeks or a month before Mrs. Moore can possibly know of the death of her sister as there is no cable to samoa. Whn she lived in this city before her marriage, Mrs. Danforth was one of the most prominent society women in Decatur. She had many firends and was highly popular. She was married November 2, 1898 to George C. Danforth, who at that time was a part owner and the operator of the local gas and electric light plan. For some time they lived here and then went to Hammond, Indiana, where Mr. Danforth established a lighting plant and from tat city they went to Independence, Missouri where Mr. Danfouth owns and operates a light plant. Last winter Mrs. Danforth was in Decatur on a visit. She was ill then and had suffered much since that time. Mrs. Danforth was an artist of much ability. She painted many fine pictures and was engaged by the stat of Illinois to make a protrait of the late Governor Oglesby. The picture now hangs in the state capitol.

Macon Co. Old Settlers Assoc. obituaries. Not related. - Pam