OBITUARY
Ackley
WILLIAM ACKLEY TAKES OWN LIFE
MISSING MAN IS FOUND HANGING TO TREE NEAR LINN CREEK. POLICE IN FUTILE SEARCH THRU NIGHT.
Neighbors Find Body After Renewing Search Along Creek's Bank This Morning -- Left His Son's Home at 1 O'clock Friday Afternoon.
William O. Ackley, 72, father of Charles Ackley, 606 East Main street, with whom he had been living, disappeared from his son's home at 1 o'clock Friday afternoon and was found at 7:40 this morning hanging from a tree; 150 feet north of east Main street bridge over Linn creek bridge following a search thru the night by friends and the police.
Joe Bender, 510 East State street, and H.F. Clemons, 605 East State street, members of the searching party who were driven into town by the rain at midnight last night, found Ackley this morning when they renewed their search along the banks of the creek. His personal effects, including hat, vest, cane and glasses, were found neatly arranged on the bank of the creek, indicating that the act had been planned. A $5 bill, three $1 bills and 95 cents in silver were found in his clothing.
Left Home at 1 O'clock.
His daughter-in-law, Mrs. Charles Ackley, said he left home at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, after giving up a trip to Rockford, Ill., where he formerly lived, and stated he would be home for supper, or if he did not return he would be found "down by the river."
Neighbors and residents in East Main street, who last saw him at 4 o'clock, said he was walking east. Members of the police department and neighbors formed a searching party early in the evening and covered the east portion of the city going ou three miles on the street road.
Ill Health Probable Cause
Mr. Ackley has been in ill health for a year and was suffering from a nervous breakdown. Altho he has been able to be about the house and to take a walk nearly every day, relatives believe long sickness and mental debility prompted him to take his life.
He was born Jan. 28, 1854, at Peoria, Ill., and moved to this county with his parents when he was a youth, making his home with them on a farm near Gilman. When he became of age he came to this city to serve his apprenticeship as a blacksmith. He worked for many years with the A.E. Shorthill Company and the Ketchum Wagon Company. He left this city sixteen years ago and much of the time was employed as a blacksmith in Rockford, Ill., returning a year ago to make his home with his son. He was a member of the Masonic Order, of Rockford, Ill.
In addition to his son, he is survived by three daughters. They are Mrs. R.C. Cole, of Cedar Rapids; Mrs. Ernie Pettit, of St. Ansgar, and Mrs. Steve Major, of Green Mountain. One brother, A.L. Ackley, of Gulfport, Miss., also survives.
---Marshalltown Times-Republican, June 1926.