William Henry Byrd

  General Notes:

Claimed that he hung himself in Carthage before 1926 perhaps early
1900s

William Henry Byrd, 61 years old, retired farmer, who had been a sufferer from nervous trouble since a breakdown five years ago, committed suicide in the basement of his home., 123 North Fulton, sometime after 1 o'clock this morning by strangling himself to death with a cord which he had tied to a rafter, tying the other end about his neck and then kicking the chunks of wood from under him.
Mr. Byrd had been suffering from a headache and for several days had been bothered with one of his chronic nervous attacks. He got out of bed shortly after midnight this morning, declaring he could not sleep and sat up in a chair by the fire. His wife, who because of his nervous trouble and many threats by Mr. Byrd under such conditions that he would end his life, got up with him, but he insisted that she return to bed with their youngest child, about three years old, and let him try to sleep by the fire.

Mrs. Byrd consented going back to bed, but not intending to go to sleep. She was worn out, however, from loss of sleep for several nights and dropped off to sleep. When she awoke about 5 o'clock she found Mr. Byrd was missing and now the cellar door was open. She went to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Bullis two block away, where she got Mr. Cook, who stays at the Bullis home. They returned to the Byrd home and went into the basement. Mr. Byrd had cut off the electric lights. Mr. Cook lighted matches and discovered Mr. Byrd's body. Mrs. Byrd got scissors for Mr. Cook to cut down the body. The man had apparently been dead some time.
Three years ago Mr. Byrd tried fruit farming because of his breakdown in health and moved to Carthage, selling his farm southwest of the city and investing in rental property here. Mr. Byrd had lived in Jasper county 20 years. He was born near Rocky Mountain, VA., December 25, 1861 and came to Missouri 28 years ago. He was a tireless worker, in fact, worked too hard, relatives say, they attributing his breakdown in health as largely due to this. He was taken to the state hospital at Nevada on two or three occasions for treatment, each time returning home after a few months, was improved and able to attend to his affairs.

William married Sarah J. "Sadie" Small, daughter of John Small and Mary Caroline Gray Dietz, on 2 Jan 1895 in Jasper Co., Missouri. (Sarah J. "Sadie" Small was born on 28 Mar 1874 in Jasper Co., Missouri, died on 19 Jul 1899 in Jasper Co., Missouri and was buried in Park Cemetery, Carthage, Jasper Co., Missouri.)

William next married Myrtle Madeline Sullivan in Feb 1901 in Jasper Co., Missouri. (Myrtle Madeline Sullivan was born on 14 May 1883 in Bonne Terre, St. Francois County, Missouri, died on 9 Oct 1955 in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co., California and was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Long Beach, Los Angeles Co., California.)