William Backhouse
Born: March 15th, 1884
Died: June 20th, 1919
Obituary
William Backhouse, 35, years of age, son of Mrs. Elizabeth Backhouse of 1108 Corse street and for many years a teamster in Burlington committed suicide in a field near the home of his brother-in-law, John Huppenberger, near Yarmouth, with whom he has been making his home, Thursday morning. The remains were found propped against a tree, with the top of the head blown off and a single-barreled shot gun lying alongside of the body.
Relatives of the man believe that he was affected by the heat, altho it has been thought that he had contemplated suicide for some time, as he previously declared his intention of someday taking his own life.
He left the home of his Brother-in-law early Thursday morning, carrying the shotgun after stating that he was going to shoot squirrels. When he failed to return at noon members of the family began to fear that something was wrong and Huppenberger began a search for the man.
After a search of several hours, Huppenberger found the remains of the man backed up against a tree in the pasture on the Tonkinson farm, close to the Huppenberger farm.
Coroner BA Prugh was notified and he went to the scene of the suicide and after a short investigation arranged to have the remains brought to Burlington.
Backhouse had been making his home on the farm of his brother-in-law, there miles southeast of Yarmouth, for the ast three years. Of late he has been working on different farms in the neighborhood, being employed last on the farm of Walter Miller.
He had been in ill health of late and had grown discouraged and repeatedly threatened to kill himself. When in good health he was regarded as a good workman and was well-liked in Burlington where he spent nearly all his life and by the residents of the vicinity of Yarmouth where he has made his home during the past several years.