----Source: GREENWOOD GLEANER (Greenwood, Wis.) 09/03/1914

Butler, James E. (15 OCT 1874 - 27 Augl 1914)

James Eldin Butler, who has been a resident of Clark County, Wis. in the town of Mead since a boy, committed suicide last Thursday sometime during the nigh after he had retired for the day. The act is supposed to have been done while in a fit of despondency.

During the summer he and his brother-in-law had been working the farm of this father, now deceased, on shares. He had spent about a week on his forty near the Shoemaker corners and had returned home ill Thursday afternoon and retired without supper. Later he came downstairs and ate a lunch, which his mother had prepared, and returned to bed. His rifle had always hung near the stairway, which he evidently took with him. No shot was heard by any member of the family and his death was not discovered until the following morning about nine o’clock, when he was called by his mother. He was found in bed lying in a perfectly natural position with the gun lying across his chest pointed to his throat. The bullet entered under the chin and came out the top of his head.

Deceased was a single man of thirty-nine years of age, having been born Oct. 15, 1874. He had always been a hard working man with the respect of all who knew him.

Funeral services were held Sunday at the home and the body taken to Nelson, Wis., for burial.