This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: PIERCE,WHITE, SULLIVAN, SCANLAN, BEAUCHAMP, EDWARDS, JOHNSON, DRISCOLL Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Jg.2ADI/933 Message Board Post: This is a fairly sensational read of my GGF's end. James Pierce (wife Mary Ann (SULLIVAN) Pierce, lived in Lena at his death, but family has strong Nora connections. James was supposedly a twin, although I've found no evidence of this yet! If you have any information about the Pierce or Sullivan families, please email me and we can share. Thanks, Nancy. >From the Lena Star Newspaper, March 13, 1903, page 1, col. 3: JAMES PIERCE ENDS ALL WELL KNOWN CITIZEN OF NORA DIES BY HIS OWN HAND FINANCIAL LOSSES AND TROUBLES THE CAUSE OF THE RASH ACT – PISTOL BALL BRINGS RELIEF – HE LEAVES A LETTER James Pierce, well known Nora citizen, shot and killed himself Friday morning early. He had been despondent for several weeks but relatives and friends never dreamed that he entertained ideas of suicide. A little son fell into a water tank about a year ago and drowned and that sad accident weighed heavily upon his mind. He never appeared to be the same afterwards. Lately he had been speculating on the board of trade and his losses added to his despondency. The recent decline in the wheat market brought him to the verge of ruin and he decided to end all. He acted very queer all day Thursday. He talked of taking a trip somewhere but did not appear to know just where. He got up during the night, stating that he could not sleep. He went down stairs, dressed and shaved himself, and made every arrangement for the end. He took his time to it. wrote a letter and then laid down on the lounge. He crossed his feet, folded one hand over his breast and placed the muzzle of his pistol back of his ear. He pulled the trigger and it was all over. Apparently he never moved a muscle. His wife heard the report of the pistol and hurried down stairs and found him – dead. The letter, written before he left all that was dear to him, was as follows: Nora, Ill, March 6, 1903 Dear wife and relatives and friends: -- I must have rest and if my trusty pistol does not err I will soon have it. I suffer the torments of hell privately. Option deals primary cause. Bury me quietly anywhere under the sun and out of the sight of man. James Pierce Mr. Pierce was 51 years of age and came to this part of the country from Ohio when he was a boy. He was a son of Mrs. Scanlan of this city and is survived by the widow and seven children. Mrs. Scannell of Lanark, and Mrs. Sullivan of Nora are sisters of the deceased. The deceased was a farmer and resided on the A.B. Meyers farm, two miles from Nora. He formerly lived on the Upton farm. Years ago, while in comfortable circumstances, he speculated on the board of trade and lost everything. Friends started him and he began over. He never forgot his losses and always claimed that he would get his money back as soon as he was financially able to get on the board. He began speculating recently and the decline in wheat proved too great for his resources and he was again ruined. He evidently felt that he was not a success on the board and the thoughts that the savings of years had been swept away unbalanced his mind, which had been affected by bereavement, and caused him t! o commit the rash act. The coroner held and inquest Friday and a verdict was returned in accordance with the above facts. The funeral services were held at the late home Sunday morning. The interment took place in the Catholic cemetery in this city. Fortunately the deceased was well insured and the family will be left in fair circumstances.