Home > United States of America > Iowa > Union County > Cromwell > Cromwell Cemetery > Edward David Harrison

Edward David Harrison

Birth	:	11 Nov 1840 Peoria County, Illinois, USA
Death	:	25 Jun 1889 Union County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Cromwell Cemetery, Cromwell, Union County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.0456543, -94.4616928
Description	:	Edward David Harrison was the son of Isaac Harrison and Sarah (Nicholson) Harrison. He married Eliza Ann Coldy on February 19, 1868 in Henry County, Illinois. Obituary, The Creston Commonwealth, Creston, Iowa. Friday, June 28, 1889, last page. "SUICIDE. E.D. Harrison, a farmer, aged 45 years, residing about one mile and a half miles south of Cromwell, committed suicide at half past five o'clock Tuesday morning by attaching a forked stick to the trigger of a musket and blowing his brains out in the kitchen of his home. The report did not alarm the household from the fact that they... Read More	Edward David Harrison was the son of Isaac Harrison and Sarah (Nicholson) Harrison. He married Eliza Ann Coldy on February 19, 1868 in Henry County, Illinois. Obituary, The Creston Commonwealth, Creston, Iowa. Friday, June 28, 1889, last page. "SUICIDE. E.D. Harrison, a farmer, aged 45 years, residing about one mile and a half miles south of Cromwell, committed suicide at half past five o'clock Tuesday morning by attaching a forked stick to the trigger of a musket and blowing his brains out in the kitchen of his home. The report did not alarm the household from the fact that they attributed the noise to preparations for building the kitchen fire. He left a note exonerating his family from all blame in regard to his sudden exit. The evidence being clear that self-destruction was premeditated no coroner's inquest was held. The funeral took place yesterday." Obituary, Creston Daily Advertiser, Creston, Iowa. June 25, 1889. "A SAD SENSATION. A Prominent Farmer Living Near Cromwell Takes His Own Life This Morning." The kitchen of this commodious home of E[dward] D[avid] Harrison, one mile south of Cromwell, was the scene of a melancholy tragedy at an early hour this morning, the particulars of which, so far as the reporter is enabled to glean, are as follows: The Harrison family was composed of the father, E.D. Harrison, aged about forty-five years, his wife and six children, five sons and a daughter, ranging in ages from perhaps six to twenty odd years. At about 5:30 this morning the father arose and came down stairs and soon after the family heard a sound, which was probably the fatal discharge, but which was thought at the time to be a noise made by Mr. Harrison with the stove in starting the fire, and the truth was not suspected until the youngest son came down stairs, to find his father, E.D. Harrison, prone upon the floor, with the musket lying across his breast, a gun shot wound in his forehead, his head pillowed in a pool of blood, and the furniture and walls spattered with blood and brains. The lad at once alarmed the family and soon the report was brought to Cromwell, and from thence a telephone message to Creston, summoned H.K. Burket to hold an inquest on the body. The deceased left a note, which gave evidence of having been carried in the pocket a day or two. The note was dated June 24, and its contents stated that no one but himself was responsible for the rash deed, and that it was not on account of any domestic troubles. The suicide is generally attributed to the condition of the deceased's financial affairs, which, while not in bad shape, have been such as to cause him some anxiety of mind. Those who are most familiar with his business affairs say that during the past year he has been engaged in some undertakings which have not proved as remunerative as he had expected, and this is thought to have preyed upon his mind and made him despondent, and that continual brooding upon the matter has led him to the commission of the deed. It is believed that notwithstanding the ventures referred to he was still solvent, and that he could have met all his obligations and have had money left. The deceased and his family were very highly esteemed by all who knew them and they occupied a prominent position in church and social circles of Cromwell and vicinity, and this sad occurrence has cast a gloom over the entire community and created a profound impression. The manner in which the fatal shot was fired seems to be, that deceased planted the stock of the musket or smooth bore rifle, upon the floor, and with a forked stick cut for the purpose, sprung the trigger and discharged the fatal ball. Coroner Burket reports that he arrived at the scene and viewed the remains, examined the note left by the dead man, and all agreed that the handwriting was that of the deceased, the case was plain and left no necessity for holding an inquest, hence that formality was waived." Obituary, Creston Daily Advertiser, Creston, Iowa. June 25, 1889. "NEVINVILLE NEWS. Our town was thrown into excitement Tuesday morning, over the news that a man had suicided. A quiet, energetic farmer named Harrison, living about two miles south of town, committed suicide by blowing his brains out with a revolver. He rose in the morning before the rest of the family, and wrote a note leaving it on the table, stating that his family was not to blame for his rash act. Financial embarrassment was the cause." The Afton Enterprise (Afton, Union, Iowa) June 27, 1889 (Thursday) "A terrible tragedy occurred near Cromwell at an early hour Tuesday morning [June 25]. The family of E[dward] D[avid] Harrison hearing the report of a gun downstairs made haste to ascertain the meaning and found the husband and father lying prone upon the floor in a pool of blood. A musket lying near told the awful tale. A note was left by the deceased, dated the day previous, saying that no one but himself was responsible for the act and that no domestic trouble was the cause for the rash deed. It is supposed he placed the musket to his head and with a stick made for the purpose, sprung the trigger and discharged the the [sci] fatal ball. Mr. Harrison leaves a wife and six children and the whole community is shocked over the sad affair." END

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Edward David Harrison's memorial?
Edward David Harrison's memorial is located at: Cromwell Cemetery, Cromwell, Union County, USA.
When did Edward David Harrison death?
Edward David Harrison death on 25 Jun 1889 in Union County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Edward David Harrison's memorial?
Latitude: 41.0456543
Longitude: -94.4616928

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Eliza Ann Coldy Harrison

(1846 - 1901)

Siblings

William Henry Harrison

(1838 - 1921)

Children

Louie Ulysses Harrison

(1872 - 1945)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Cromwell Cemetery
Cromwell, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0456543, -94.4616928

2. Lytles Grove Cemetery
Cromwell, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0190010, -94.4309998

3. Summit Cemetery
Prescott, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0283012, -94.5291977

4. Calvary Cemetery
Creston, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0579987, -94.3899994

5. Spaulding Center Cemetery
Union County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1139984, -94.4179993

6. Graceland Cemetery
Creston, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0369987, -94.3519974

7. Stringtown Cemetery
Stringtown, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9796982, -94.5663986

8. McDuffie Cemetery
Kent, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9500008, -94.4110031

9. Bohemian National Cemetery
Williamson, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1152992, -94.5714035

10. Ide Cemetery
Creston, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9770012, -94.3499985

11. Old Evergreen Cemetery
Prescott, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0321500, -94.6051500

12. Prairie Lawn Cemetery
Spaulding, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1360016, -94.3759995

13. Rose Hill Cemetery
Nevinville, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1549988, -94.5049973

14. Mount Zion Cemetery
Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0863991, -94.6031036

15. Evergreen Cemetery
Prescott, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0299988, -94.6136017

16. Grove Chapel Cemetery
Kent, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9350110, -94.3947670

17. Old Jerusalem Cemetery
Creston, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1159401, -94.3084335

18. Salem Cemetery
Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9467010, -94.5843964

19. Morgan Cemetery
Kent, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9080009, -94.4520035

20. Harmony Cemetery
Shannon City, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9370003, -94.3359985

21. Bruning Cemetery
Kent, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9049988, -94.4069977

22. Evergreen Cemetery
Creston, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1139984, -94.2839966

23. County Home Cemetery
Creston, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0449982, -94.2590027

24. Orient Cemetery
Orient, Adair County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2080002, -94.4160004