findagrave.com Seth D Stanley

Seth D. Stanley BIRTH 6 Jan 1870 DEATH 9 Mar 1921 (aged 51) BURIAL Sharon Chapel Cemetery

Bethany Newspaper, name and date unknown Seth Stanley Dead Met a tragic death either by his own hands or by foul play...coroner's jury unable to decide...still a mystery to all...funeral held Saturday. Seth Stanley, a prominent citizen of this county, large landowner, and Bethany business man was taken from a well in his own marble shop, dead, last Thursday morning, March 10, after his unusual absence from his home all night. His family gave the alarm early on Thursday morning that he had come to town as usual the evening before and had not returned, or communicated with them all night. The searchers went to his marble yard and found his Ford car parked across the street and his office door unlocked. Further investigation found his overcoat and cap on a chair, and the lid to the well covering open, and an examination found his body at the bottom of the well weighted down with a sack of sand tied with the well rope around his neck and when the body was raised out of about sixteen foot of water, it was seen that his hands were wired together, the right hand slipping out of the wire loop by the process of being taken from the well, but the wrists showed the marks of the wire having been securely fastened,. This fact caused the rescuing party to suspect foul play and the county coroner was notified and took charge of the body. A jury was impanelled and an autopsy held in their presence and after a number of witnesses were examined, rendered a verdict that he came to death by means unknown to them. Mr. Stanley was a character that his friends claim would not be one to committ suicide because of financial troubles. He was in good health and no known reason was given at the inquest why he would destroy himself. And on the other hand no one is suspected of foul play or nothing has developed that there would be a motive for any one to commit a crime like his tragic death. On Monday the well was drained but revealed nothing that would throw any light on the mystery. He visited different places of business during the evening, chatting as usual, and was last seen alive about 9 o'clock. About an hour later James Taylor in making his usual rounds tried the Stanley marble yard door and found it unlocked & going in, some one whom he recognized as Mr. Stanley's voice called to him from the rear of his shop, that he was there, and the night watch passed on his way. This was 10 o'clock or after, the night watch says. The watch taken from Mr. Stanley's dead body having stopped at 9:45. The night watch might have been mistaken as to the time of his visit to the marble yard or the watch may have been stopped before it went into the well. Wild rumors of cold-blooded murder have been advanced by persons not familiar with all the details, and before the coroners jury made their investigation, but so far nothing has developed that would conclusively show foul play. Most of his friends, which are numbered by the hundreds in Bethany and in his former home in the east part of the county accept the suicide theory, but are ready to consider & investigate anything that might look like murder. Seth D. Stanley was born in Harrison County, Mo Jan 6 1870 and suddenly came to the end of his earthly life March 9 1921 aged 51 years, 2 months and 3 days. He was the son of John E. and Rebecca Stanley, and one of a family of eleven children. His parents were pioneers of Fox Creek township. He spent his boyhood on the old homestead together with his parents until his 23d year, when on December 13 1893 he was united in marriage to Nannie A. Higdon, a neighbor girl whom he had known since childhood. To this union were born four daughters, all of whom are living: Cora E. wife of Harley Maple, of Akron, Zula A. wife of Israel Chaney, of Melbourne, Eva R. and Grace of Bethany. Besides his wife and children he leaves three grandchildren, one brother, M.E.Stanley of Wichita Ks., two sisters, Mrs. Ellen Griffin of Spickard Mo and Mrs. Hester Hudson of Gilman City, numerous other relatives, and many friends. He was well known throughout the county, as an optomistic citizen, a friendly type of a man, four- square in all his relations with fellows. He was a man of no great religious pretensions, but his every day life revealed a high type of Christian character. His home life was ideal. A devoted lover of wife & children, impartial in his regard for relatives, congenial and affable to all his friends. He kept open house for all. About twelve years ago together with his wife , he united with the Baptist Church at Mt. Pleasant No. 1, retaining his membership in that organization until his death. Some time after his removal to Bethany he received the first degree of Free Masonry in Bethany Lodge No. 97 A.F. & A.M., and as soon there after as time would permit he became Worshipful Master of that lodge. At the time of his death he was High Priest of the chapter there, a Past Commander of the Knights Templars, a member of the Council and the Shrine at St. Joseph. Together with his wife, he was prominent in the O.E.S. He had been a member of the I.O.O.F. and Rebekah's for more than twenty years, and a member of the Knights of Pythias for many years. Mr. Stanley was not only active in church & fraternal circles but in political and business as well. It is hard for these to contemplate his mysterious departure, but they suffer not as those who have no hope. His body will crumble into dust, but his soul and ours will live forever. The Funeral Seth D. Stanley, who so mysteriously came to death in his marble shop March 10 1921 was laid at rest in Sharon cemetery three miles south of Mt. Moriah Saturday March 12 1921. In writing this funeral account, it is not our intention to enter into an obituary, but just to give a brief analysis of the funeral proper. There was Scripture reading and prayer at the house at 9:30 a.m. by the Rev. W.O. Dotson and then the funeral cortege immediately started on its way to the place where the deceased had previously arranged that he should be buried beside the sacred dust of his parents. The body was escorted by Bethany commandery No. 42, uniform following manner: Scripture reading and prayer by Dr. W.S. Welch, of the First Methodist Church, Bethany, and a synopsis of the life and character of the deceased was read by Rev. Floyd Morgan, of the First Methodist Church, of Rockport, Mo. The funeral sermon was delivered by Rev. W.O. Dotson of the First Baptist Church, Bethany. The song service was rendered by Mesdames Spencer and Prentiss and Messrs. Prentiss and Haas. At the conclusion of the services in the church the massive casket was opened and the vast crowd filed past to take a last look at the features of their old friend and former neighbor. Many in the long line of march paused at the bier and heaved a sigh and often a tear drop was noticed glistening on the palid cheek of some old friend of him who lay so silently and cold in the beautiful casket, which was practically entombed in a labyrinth of choice flowers. After the bereaved companion and daughters, with hearts almost bursting with grief, were persuaded to turn away, the casket was closed and the pall bearers slowly carried the mortal remains of their old friend to the grave passing between two lines of the uniformed commandry, who reverently stood with drawn swords. At the grave the commandry took charge, and the beautiful and impressive Masonic funeral rites were read and amid the most profound and reverent silence, the massive casket encased in a steel vault, was lowered into the tomb, and the Rev. W.O. Dotson tenderly dismissed the solemn audience, who came from far and near to pay their last token of respect to that splendid citizen and four-square man, Seth D. Stanley. The attendance at the church was so great that only a portion of the people could gain entrance into the building, there being fully as many on the outside as there were in the house. The floral gifts were the most elaborate we have seen in many years.