Charles H. Lanfear

The Payette Independent
Thursday, July 19, 1928

C.H. LANFEAR'S BODY TAKEN FROM SNAKE RIVER

TRAGIC ENDING OF THE LIFE OF A GOOD CITIZEN WHOSE MIND HAD BEEN EFFECTED BY FINANCIAL REVERSES AND THE LOSS OF PROPERTY

C. H. Lanfear, of Fruitland, whose mysterious disappearance last week aroused the whole community, evidently took his own life as his badly decomposed body was found floating down the Snake river last Thursday night. He had been seen passing through Payette and it was reported that he was seen on the Oregon side and this lead to the belief that he was headed for Salem, Oregon, where one of his daughters lives. This was evidently a mistake and the conclusion reached is that he jumped from the Snake river bridge as he intimated he would when brooding over his misfortune.

The first seen of the body was near the James Carico place. Mr. Carico's son was in swimming just before dark and saw the body float by near the Oregon shore. He dressed as quickly as possible and went to the house and told his father. He in turn informed Sheriff Stewart and said he thought the body could be recovered at Crystal. The sheriff rushed there and went out on the riffles, but the water was too rapid for him to hold the body when it came floating by.

Sheriff Stewart returned to the highway and met John R. McKinney and he went to the river near the August Brockman place, three miles above Weiser while the sheriff went further down stream where he knew there was a boat. Mr. McKinney, who had also procured a boat and help, caught the body as it came along. On the arrival of the sheriff the body was taken to the undertaking parlors at Weiser and the family notified. The condition of the remains were such that identification could be made only by the teeth and clothing. They were encased in an airtight steel casket and brought to the family home where funeral services were held at 5:30 o'clock Friday afternoon on the lawn.

Mr. Lanfear was a good man and an upright citizen who commanded the respect of everybody. Financial difficulties overtook him and he had lost practically all of his property. He brooded over this until his mind became effected and he had threatened self destruction several times.

The obituary appears in the Fruitland news on another page of this issue.

Obituary

Charles H. Lanfear was born in Oneida County, New York, September 4, 1854. When he was two years old he moved with his parents to Oneida, Illinois, where he lived until he was twenty-five years old, moving then to Hastings, Nebraska. At the age of 33 he was married to Elnora C. Akerman. To this union five children were born, Wm. Lanfear, of Riverside, California, Mrs. Hazel Heckes, of Salem, Oregon, Mrs. Grace Ader, of Fruitland, Idaho, two daughters Bessie and Lucille preceding him in death about 20 years ago.

He and his family moved from Nebraska to Fruitland, Idaho, 26 years ago where he has since lived. He passed away July 9, 1928, at the age of 73 years, 10 months and 29 days. He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife, one son, two daughters, eight grandchildren, one brother, Frank, living in Nebraska, and a host of friends. He was a good neighbor and will be greatly missed.