Hiram E. Leonard Diary, August 12 - 18, 1874
Content warning: This week’s post contains information that might be difficult for some to read. During this week in history, Hiram detailed the sad occurrence of suicide in Warrenville in his journal. Today we have many more resources available than they did throughout much of history. If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis you may call or text 988, the 24-hour Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
“12th Wednesday A fine hot dry day I did my choars was round the office all day closed up at 8 and went to bed at 9 ½ sick & nearly tiered out Frank Wellman stayed up at my house on the farm all day till I went to milk when he came to the paster well & drank some water & washed his face & hed & came down to the store & came in drank some tea & eat a little supper and went to D Kenyons before I got back from milking while my folks were out of the room he got my best razer & unbeknown to any of us & carried it off with him.
“13th Thursday A fine hot pleasant dry day I did my choars was at the office all day more or less closed up about 8 & went to bed about 9 ½ nearly sick etc Frank Wellman got up at Daniel Kenyons this morning between 2 & 4 oclock and went out at the east door & went to Pollards well and got a pitcher of water came back & set it on the cistern then went out into Kenyons south garden & cut his throat with my razer Kenyon found him about 6 oclock with his throat cut & he was ded we had Mr Hudson go to Naperville & got the Corner Dr Daniel and telegraph to Arba Wellman his father & afterwards I sent a dispatch to Fitch Phelps we laid Frank out in Kenyons parler. Henry Wyman & Willard Brand watched with him all night.
“14th Friday A fine pleasant hot day I did my choars was round home all day except being to D Kenyons to see to Frank I closed up at 8 and went to bed about 9 ½ tiered & nearly sick etc I got a dispatch from Arba Wellman in morning one from Charles H Wellman about 10 & one from Fitch Phelps about 1 or 2 oclock PM I had a metalic coffin sent for to Chicago which got here about 7 ½ at night and we got the corps started for Naperville about 9.
“15th Saturday A fine hot dry day I did my choars was round home & the store the most of the day closed up at 8 & went to bed about 9 ½ nearly sick & tiered out etc Frank Wellman boddy left Naperville for Friendship this morning about 8 oclock Hurbe Hollister broak into Greens Store last night & stole conciderable, they catched him at Junction this morning about 10 AM.
“16th Sunday A find hot dry day I did my choars was at home all day except going to farm to salt cattle came back & wrote som and looked over Frank Wellman book & papers.
“17th Monday fine pleasant hot dry weather, I did my choars was at the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 ½ nearly sick.
“18th Tuesday fine hot dry weather I did my choars was at the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 ½ nearly sick.”