CHAMBERS, Joseph

[Janet Harrington]

COMMITS SUICIDE

Joe Chambers, Formerly of Howard, Ends His Life by Drinking Carbolic Acid

Joseph Chambers, who was one of the early citizens of this section committed suicide in his home to Oklahoma, Friday, Friday, December 2.

The word was received here by L. T. Williams in a letter from Mr. Williams' son, Ed.  He gave the following particulars:

Chambers went to Yale Friday with one of his boys.  Went to the drug store and got an ounce of carbolic acid.  He told everyone that the doctor said he couldn't live until morning.  When he got home he told his wife the same story and wanted her to come and set down and he would tell her the condition of his business affairs.  She thought he was joking and told him to come on out to his supper, but he told her that he did not want any supper, and went to bed.  The rest of the family went to supper and in about five minutes they smelled the acid and went to him and found him breathing his last.  He had been on a drunk ever since before Christmas."

Chambers was one of the early settlers of this neighborhood.  At one time he owned and lived on what is now the county poor farm and also lived on other farms and in Howard.  At one time he was a heavy taxpayer but when he left here he had very little property.  He was an auctioneer and also a plasterer.

Chambers left here about 16 years ago and was living at the time of his death on a farm two miles from Ingalls, Oklahoma.

He was one of the young soldiers of the rebellion, a member of the Tenth Kansas Cavalry.  He came to Elk county from Franklin county in 1871.  He was about 66 years.  He leaves a widow and several children.  Those who knew him best speak of his kindness of heart and other good qualities, and say that he was always worse to himself than to anyone else.