From injuries in what a coroner's inquiry determined was a suicide leap from the fourth floor of the Hancock County Home near Carthage, Ben Dunham, revered and respected citizen of LaHarpe for many years, died instantly of a skull fracture and multiple injuries about 9:00 a. m. last Saturday, April 15, 1945.

A patient at the home only about three days, Mr. Dunham had been extremely despondent for some weeks over his failure to improve in health.

Family members and many friends went to the Banks funeral home on Monday afternoon to pay their final respects at funeral services, conducted by Rev. James Q. Moore, after which interment was made in LaHarpe cemetery.

Benjamin Franklin Dunham, son of George and Sarah Ellen Carnes Dunham, was born in LaHarpe on June 23, 1884, and at his death on Saturday, April 14, 1945 had reached the age of 60 years, nine months and 21 days.

Mr. Dunham grew to manhood and received his education in this community and on September 4, 1910 was united in marriage with Bessie Ellen Sears.  They became the parents of two daughters, Mrs. Velma George of LaHarpe and Mrs. Wilma Melvin of Bushnell.  They, together with three grandchildren, Donald Collins of this city and Merle and Anna Lou Melvin of Bushnell, are left to bear the sincere grief of his passing.

Mr. Dunham was one of a family of 11 children, four dying in infancy, and of this family he is mourned by four sisters and two brothers: Logan Dunham of Topeka, Kansas, A. J. Dunham and Mrs. Lena Thrush of LaHarpe, Mrs. Mae Daugherty of Monmouth, Mrs. Sadie Daugherty of Burlington, Iowa, and Mrs. Myrtle Pence of Lomax; also several nieces and nephews.

A member since childhood of the Methodist church, the deceased had spent his entire life in and around LaHarpe, and throughout his productive years had famed [sic] and held various positions of trust in this city.  Wherever he was known he was respected for his integrity, his honesty and his good humor.  He liked people and in turn was held in mutual esteem by all acquaintances.

In failing health for the past several months, his passing was not altogether unexpected, though was none the less deplored and mourned by his family and many friends.

Dunham, Geo, head, white, male, Apr 1861, 39, married for 14 years, born OH, both parents born OH, farmer, months not employed - 3, could read, write and speak English, rented his farm home, farm schedule 70

S, wife, white, female, Dec 1848, 51, married for 14 years; mother of 6 children, 5 living; born IL, both parents born OH, could read, write and speak English

May, daughter, white, female, Sept 1879, 20, single, born IL, father born OH, mother born IL, could read, write and speak English

Myrtle, daughter, white, female, July 1882, 17, single, born IL, father born OH, mother born IL, could read, write and speak English

Ben, son, white, male, Jun 1884, 15, single, born IL, father born OH, mother born IL, farm laborer, months not employed - 2, could read, write and speak English

Sadie, daughter, white, female, Oct 1886, 13, single, born IL, father born OH, mother born IL, at school for 8 months, could read, write and speak English

Dunham, Ben, servant, male, white, 21, single, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, laborer, farm, employee, whether out of work on April 15, 1910 - no, number of weeks out of work during 1909 - 0, could read and write

Dunham, Ben, head, owner, paying on a mortgage, male, white, 35, married, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, farmer, general farm, working on own account, farm schedule 11

Bessie, wife, female, white, 24, married, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Velma, daughter, female, white, 6, single, did not attend school after Sept. 1, 1919, born IL, both parents born IL

Wilma, daughter, female, white, 5, single, did not attend school after Sept. 1, 1919, born IL, both parents born IL

Dunham, Benjamin, head, renter, [no entry for monthly rental], did not own a radio, lived on a farm, male, white, 44, married, age at first marriage - 24, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, laborer, general farm, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no

Bessie, wife, female, white, 35, married, age at first marriage - 16, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Velma, daughter, female, white, 16, single, did not attend school after Sept. 1, 1929, could read and write, born Il, both parents born IL, spoke English