Age 60y 3m 18d per cemetery records.
Obituary from "The Geauga Republican" newspaper, 9 Feb 1916
W.H. Abell Dies By His Own Hand
W.H. Abell, aged 60, one of Geauga County's best known men, who has been a stock buyer for years, is a suicide. He shot himself.
His body was found in bed at his home on Tilden Avenue and Walter Street at 1 o'clock Thursday afternoon by Sheriff Homer J. Ballard and Will Sked, a neighbor.
Abell had not been seen for several days, and neighbors were alarmed at his absence. Abell kept his horse in the barn of Jonah Williams, and the fact that he had not been there for a couple of days strengthened the belief that something had happened to him.
Sked summoned Sheriff Ballard, and entrance was gained to the house through a rear window.
Abell was found in his bed in the front room. The bed clothing was covered with blood. It had seeped through the bed until small pools had formed below.
Abell lay on his right side. His tongue was protruding. No further examination was made until Coroner Allyn was summoned. As the bed clothing was turned down a revolver was found.
On the kitchen table were the dishes on which was food, showing that he had partially eaten his supper. In the front room his check stubs were scattered about near a desk, indicating that he had been going over his business affairs before committing the terrible deed.
On a trunk by the bed, were his watch, a can containing tobacco and his knife.
The deed was committed with a 32-caliber revolver. There was evidence that it was carefully planned. Abell removed his street clothes and placed them on a bed in an adjoining room. Then he donned a gray flannel shirt and a gray sweater. The latter garment lay across the foot of the bed. Downstairs a Sunday paper lay on the floor. Just when the deed was committed is unknown.
Abell had evidently raised up in bed to fire the fatal shot. The bullet entered the right temple, passed through the head, and into a wardrobe at the head of the bed.
Coroner W.E Allyn viewed the body at 1:30 o'clock, and took charge of Abell's personal effects. Over $28 was found in his clothing.
The deceased was a good citizen, and highly esteemed in Chardon. He had bought and shipped live stock regularly here for many years. His wife died about a year ago, and one son died here some years ago. He leaves a son somewhere in the West. He came here from Burton, which was his home town.
The Monday previous Abell phoned an advertisement to the local papers announcing he would ship live stock Monday, Feb. 7. There was several days' mail waiting for him at the postoffice Thursday.
Abell lived alone, and visitors or callers were rare. He evidently retired as usual Monday night, and for his comfort placed a heated soapstone at his feet. One theory is that, alone with his thoughts, and after retiring, he brooded over his discouragements and loneliness until further existence seemed too great a burden to bear, and, arising from the bed, sought the revolver with which he fired the fatal shot.
There was no one, it seems, to whom he could confide his troubles. He was a man of few words; always courteous, genial and kindly. His discouragements were due to financial reverses, his friends believe, and the future may not have seemed reassuring to him. In the many years he had shipped live stock regularly from Chardon, he had paid many thousands of dollars to the farmers of this region. W.H. Abell was highly esteemed by Chardon business men and citizens generally, and he will be missed.
The body was prepared for burial by Burr & Smith, local undertakers, and removed to their undertaking rooms. The funeral was held at the late residence of the deceased Saturday forenoon at 11 o'clock, and largely attended, Rev. Robert Paton officiating, and preached what was, undoubtedly, the most impressive funeral sermon ever heard in Chardon, at least in a great many years.
The reverend gentleman took his text from 6th Gal., 2d verse: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." He began by saying that the true law for the highest life is that the strong should help bear the burdens of the weak. Then earnestly he declared:
WHAT THE MINISTER SAID [sic]
"There is too much of the beast of the jungle in us. We hear too much about business struggles. The struggle we ought to make is for others as well as ourself. We ought to develop that spirit in us. It is the spirit of Christ.
"Man's inhumanity to man has mad countless thousands mourn. Instead of the law of Christ prevailing, we see hunger, want and cheerless homes surrounded by homes of plenty. We are surrounded by misery, pain and heartache.
"We come to-day with our tardy sympathy. We are sad because we did not call on him with sympathy in his home. I have no doubt our brother had many a dark moment we might have cheered. We ought to be stirred to higher activity. We are not as good as we ought to be. I ask you to-day to be better men and women, and highly resolve.
"I met our brother near here Monday night, and asked how he was getting along. 'It's lonesome in the winter; I am driven into the house so much. I get along better in the summer, when I can be around,' he replied. He didn't ask me in, and I thought he didn't want to. I rebuked myself as I passed up the street, that I didn't go in, and I rebuke myself to-day.
"We need more sympathy and kindness in our lives. We sometimes inflict greatest paint. My friends, so you know what your neighbors' burdens are?
"Life to him who lies here was a hard struggle. Sickness and death were among his discouragements. Right at your side is some one struggling, trying to be hopeful and brave, trying to keep their head above water. Do you know that when you lighten others' burdens you lighten your own? Let us lift and not add.
"We will have the memory of a kindly man, a gentle man, a gentle-hearted man. And in a world not as gentle he got the worst of it. I pray God to give us grace to remember our duty in this life.
"The deceased was born in Troy, Oct. 15, 1855. He has written a record of kindness in his community. He bore the burdens of others. In this home his wife died 11 Jan 1915 and on 27 May 1915, his aged mother-in-law, last member of his home, passed away. He was alone and broken-hearted. My prayer is that from this time our lives may be better because of this poor broken heart."
The Fowler-quartet sang "It is Well With My Soul," "Some Day We'll Understand," and "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere." Beautiful flowers adorned the casket.
The pall-bearers were S.A. Barker, Chas. Herrington, Richard George, Will Sked, R.J. Osmond and M.J. Andrews. Burial was made in the family lot in the Village Cemetery.
The deceased leaves a sister, Mrs. Aurilla Stone, of Burton, who was sick and unable to attend the funeral. The whereabouts of the surviving son, Bert Abell, is unknown, and two grandchildren, who reside in Windsor, also were not present.
Age 60y 3m 18d per cemetery records.
Obituary from "The Geauga Republican" newspaper, 9 Feb 1916
W.H. Abell Dies By His Own Hand
W.H. Abell, aged 60, one of Geauga County's best known men, who has been a stock buyer for years, is a suicide. He shot himself.
His body was found in bed at his home on Tilden Avenue and Walter Street at 1 o'clock Thursday afternoon by Sheriff Homer J. Ballard and Will Sked, a neighbor.
Abell had not been seen for several days, and neighbors were alarmed at his absence. Abell kept his horse in the barn of Jonah Williams, and the fact that he had not been there for a couple of days strengthened the belief that something had happened to him.
Sked summoned Sheriff Ballard, and entrance was gained to the house through a rear window.
Abell was found in his bed in the front room. The bed clothing was covered with blood. It had seeped through the bed until small pools had formed below.
Abell lay on his right side. His tongue was protruding. No further examination was made until Coroner Allyn was summoned. As the bed clothing was turned down a revolver was found.
On the kitchen table were the dishes on which was food, showing that he had partially eaten his supper. In the front room his check stubs were scattered about near a desk, indicating that he had been going over his business affairs before committing the terrible deed.
On a trunk by the bed, were his watch, a can containing tobacco and his knife.
The deed was committed with a 32-caliber revolver. There was evidence that it was carefully planned. Abell removed his street clothes and placed them on a bed in an adjoining room. Then he donned a gray flannel shirt and a gray sweater. The latter garment lay across the foot of the bed. Downstairs a Sunday paper lay on the floor. Just when the deed was committed is unknown.
Abell had evidently raised up in bed to fire the fatal shot. The bullet entered the right temple, passed through the head, and into a wardrobe at the head of the bed.
Coroner W.E Allyn viewed the body at 1:30 o'clock, and took charge of Abell's personal effects. Over $28 was found in his clothing.
The deceased was a good citizen, and highly esteemed in Chardon. He had bought and shipped live stock regularly here for many years. His wife died about a year ago, and one son died here some years ago. He leaves a son somewhere in the West. He came here from Burton, which was his home town.
The Monday previous Abell phoned an advertisement to the local papers announcing he would ship live stock Monday, Feb. 7. There was several days' mail waiting for him at the postoffice Thursday.
Abell lived alone, and visitors or callers were rare. He evidently retired as usual Monday night, and for his comfort placed a heated soapstone at his feet. One theory is that, alone with his thoughts, and after retiring, he brooded over his discouragements and loneliness until further existence seemed too great a burden to bear, and, arising from the bed, sought the revolver with which he fired the fatal shot.
There was no one, it seems, to whom he could confide his troubles. He was a man of few words; always courteous, genial and kindly. His discouragements were due to financial reverses, his friends believe, and the future may not have seemed reassuring to him. In the many years he had shipped live stock regularly from Chardon, he had paid many thousands of dollars to the farmers of this region. W.H. Abell was highly esteemed by Chardon business men and citizens generally, and he will be missed.
The body was prepared for burial by Burr & Smith, local undertakers, and removed to their undertaking rooms. The funeral was held at the late residence of the deceased Saturday forenoon at 11 o'clock, and largely attended, Rev. Robert Paton officiating, and preached what was, undoubtedly, the most impressive funeral sermon ever heard in Chardon, at least in a great many years.
The reverend gentleman took his text from 6th Gal., 2d verse: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." He began by saying that the true law for the highest life is that the strong should help bear the burdens of the weak. Then earnestly he declared:
WHAT THE MINISTER SAID [sic]
"There is too much of the beast of the jungle in us. We hear too much about business struggles. The struggle we ought to make is for others as well as ourself. We ought to develop that spirit in us. It is the spirit of Christ.
"Man's inhumanity to man has mad countless thousands mourn. Instead of the law of Christ prevailing, we see hunger, want and cheerless homes surrounded by homes of plenty. We are surrounded by misery, pain and heartache.
"We come to-day with our tardy sympathy. We are sad because we did not call on him with sympathy in his home. I have no doubt our brother had many a dark moment we might have cheered. We ought to be stirred to higher activity. We are not as good as we ought to be. I ask you to-day to be better men and women, and highly resolve.
"I met our brother near here Monday night, and asked how he was getting along. 'It's lonesome in the winter; I am driven into the house so much. I get along better in the summer, when I can be around,' he replied. He didn't ask me in, and I thought he didn't want to. I rebuked myself as I passed up the street, that I didn't go in, and I rebuke myself to-day.
"We need more sympathy and kindness in our lives. We sometimes inflict greatest paint. My friends, so you know what your neighbors' burdens are?
"Life to him who lies here was a hard struggle. Sickness and death were among his discouragements. Right at your side is some one struggling, trying to be hopeful and brave, trying to keep their head above water. Do you know that when you lighten others' burdens you lighten your own? Let us lift and not add.
"We will have the memory of a kindly man, a gentle man, a gentle-hearted man. And in a world not as gentle he got the worst of it. I pray God to give us grace to remember our duty in this life.
"The deceased was born in Troy, Oct. 15, 1855. He has written a record of kindness in his community. He bore the burdens of others. In this home his wife died 11 Jan 1915 and on 27 May 1915, his aged mother-in-law, last member of his home, passed away. He was alone and broken-hearted. My prayer is that from this time our lives may be better because of this poor broken heart."
The Fowler-quartet sang "It is Well With My Soul," "Some Day We'll Understand," and "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere." Beautiful flowers adorned the casket.
The pall-bearers were S.A. Barker, Chas. Herrington, Richard George, Will Sked, R.J. Osmond and M.J. Andrews. Burial was made in the family lot in the Village Cemetery.
The deceased leaves a sister, Mrs. Aurilla Stone, of Burton, who was sick and unable to attend the funeral. The whereabouts of the surviving son, Bert Abell, is unknown, and two grandchildren, who reside in Windsor, also were not present.
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