Lucinda Bryant

ALBANY, Oregon, July 30 (Special)--Mrs. Lucinda Bryant, one of the early Oregon pioneers, and mother of H. Bryant, a wealthy citizen of Albany, committed suicide at her home in the suburbs of the city at an early hour this morning.

Since the death of her husband in April 1903, Mrs. Bryant had brooded continually over her loneliness and had at times become very melancholy. She had lived with her husband for over 50 years and complained often that his death had made a void in her life that could not be filled.

Mrs. Bryant lived with a housekeeper, Mrs. Cyrus, who seldom left the aged woman alone. They slept in the same room and many times during the night, Mrs. Cyrus would awake and investigate to ascertain if her aged ward was safe.

This morning, Mrs. Cyrus states that she woke up at 1 o'clock and is certain that Mrs. Bryant was in bed in her room at that hour. However, when Mrs. Cyrus arose, about 7 o'clock, Mrs. Bryant was not in her bed and a search failed to reveal her presence in the house.

Mrs. Cyrus then became frightened and ran to H. Bryant's house, which is nearby, to secure assistance. A number of people from the latter place joined in the search, only to find the body of the aged and demented woman swinging from a rafter in the barn. Dr. Wallace, who was immediately called, states that the suicide was probably committed at an early hour this morning. The body did not give indications of having been lifeless very long.

Coroner Portmiller will not hold an inquest over the body, as it is a plain case of suicide. Mrs. Bryant was 76 years old, and came to Oregon across the plains in 1852.

Oregonian, July 31, 1904

* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Sep 2 2023, 20:28:31 UTC