Committed suicide by hanging with a log chain in barn.

One of the most interesting documents in my possession is Edward Payne Cole’s suicide letter. It is actually a copy made very shortly after his death, the original being kept by law officials. On the date mentioned in the letter he went to the barn and hanged himself from the rafters, using a logging chain, no less. There are newspaper articles and perhaps a coroner’s report that I haven’t explored yet.

June 7, 1877, I am about to bid my friends an everlasting farewell, the cause is trouble, bury me where I am found. I do not want any fuss made about I did it myself. Just say in this Hole lies E. P. Cole aged 70 years one month and 15 days, I have had all the trouble I could live under for the last four years, Johan is to blame for this act ofmine for he has [“did” is crossed out] not do as he Sayed, he wanted a few cords of wood to burn, he said he could not get any. He wished I would let him have down Timber for which he would pay 25 cents per cord, and from that he cut Wood to sell and black Walnut blocks and saw logs by the score, and said he had bought all the dead Timber there was of the place, it was some down Timber in Sted of all, Ask Carley Burkhart what I said about his buying it all and how much stuff he hauled and what it was and see if it was down tree wood worth 25 cents per cord, ask Jud Hill what I said and what Johan said down in the woods one day about money and how much Wood he hauled at 25 cents per cord and how many 1000 feet of logs at four dollars per 1000 feet, Brown hauled with Holl, ask Sam Peterson what I said and what Johan said and what he called me and what he said he was agoing to do, the fact is I never was So misused by any live man as I have been by him, the Timber in the Woods field he never had any claim on, he asked about it 2 or 3 times and I told him no I wsnated the down and dry timber myself, I did not think he was a running the thing over from one year to another I want the thing seen to pretty soon, E. P. Cole
Juen 8th 1877 I appoint R. P. Jones John C Cole and Sally Cole to settle up my business, I have nothing to Say aboaut it do what you think best about it, you may think this pretty rough and so it is, but life is a burden and I had better be dead than alive, I pray the Lord will have mercy on my soul

E. P. Cole

From the Vidette, Valpariaso, IN
14 June 1877
SUICIDE OF Mr. E. P. COLE

Mr. E. P. Cole, a very early settler 6 miles north of here along the road to Chesterton, where he has lived for 40 years, has had some trouble 3 or 4 years past with Mr. Johon, living near there, feeling grossly wronged by yet averse to lawing; and perhaps had other matters worrying his mind. He had in months past frequently expressed himself so tired of life as to desire to die. He wrote a letter with a pencil dated 7th of June, which covered one large page, describing how he felt about the course of Johon in perverting and transcending their agreement as to Johon’s taking fallen timber from his premises. The other side of that samesheet was partly covered with a writing dated June 8, which was supplemental to the writing of the 7th, and declared his weariness of life and preference for death. Upon another slip of writing dated June 9, he requested R. P. Jones and John P. [sic] Cole his son, to act with Mrs. Sally Cole, his widow, as administrators; said he wished his widow to have all his property for life, except for some notions he desired to have distributed to his grandchildren.

After dinner Saturday, the 9th, he told his wife that he was going to the barn to spread some grass to dry, and so went out. Some time elapsed, and Mrs. Cole, on looking out saw cattle near the barn in mischief, and went out to drive them off. While doing this she called to Mr. Cole to come and help, but got no answer. This excited her surprise, and drew attention to the barn door, which she found fastened on the outside in a way that was unusual. She looked in and saw her husband hanging by a log chain, fastened to a pole about the threshing floor, to all appearance dead; and certainly beyond her power alone to rescue. She immediately gave alarm, and John C. Cole, and others soon arrived and took him down. They hoped he was not too far gone to be restored, and used such efforts as they could, but all in vain.