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Obituary- Whitney, Orsen

O.D. Whitney Kills Himself At His Home
Despondent over his poor health Orsen Deforest Whitney, aged 68, shot and killed himself with a high-powered rifle at his home four miles northwest of Rossville last Saturday afternoon.

After his wife and daughter, Miss Vida Whitney had come to town Mr. Whitney picked up his rifle, a 25-20, sat down in an arm chair rested the butt end of the gun on the dining room table and pulled the trigger with his hand. The first shop missed its mark leaving a scratch on the top of the scalp. He then reloaded the gun and shot himself thru the head, the bullet entering the left side just above the ear. There were two bullet holes in the wall and two empty shells, one in the chamber of the gun and one on the floor.

Mrs. Whitney and Miss Vida found the body when they returned from Rossville about 4 o'clock. He left a note to his wife, giving her some instructions about business matters. No inquest was held by Coroner H.L. Clark.

Mr. Whitney suffered a stroke of apoplexy about 18 months ago and since had been in very poor health, suffering severe pains in his head. He had resided on the farm northwest of town for the past 17 years, but prior to moving here in 1912 had lived in this community many years ago.

Mr. Whitney was born July 6th, 1860 at Sake Mills, Wisconsin. In his early manhood he moved west to the Dakotas and farmed several years. In the fall of 1896 he was elected county auditor of Union county, South Dakota, and served two terms. In the spring of 1900 he began operating a line of grain elevators and acted in that capacity until 1905.

He was united in marriage to Miss Carrie S. Bellwood in the spring of 1897. To this union were born four children, Vida of the home address, Thora S. of New York City, Curt K. of Oklahoma City, Okla., who with their mother survive him. One son, Isadore Lloyd died in infancy.

February 1st, 1912 he moved his family to the farm four miles northwest of Rossville where he lived until his death October 13th, 1928. He was a devoted husband and father.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon in the Rossville Methodist church conducted by the Rev. Gordon S. Pritchett. The body was interred in Memorial cemetery at Topeka.

[From 18 Oct 1928]

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Miss Thora Whitney left last Friday evening for her home in Long Beach, New York, after coming home to attend the funeral of her father, O.D. Whitney.

[From 25 Oct 1928]

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