Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 175, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1912 — Funeral of Matt Hopper Largely Attended at Roselawn Monday. [ARTICLE]

Funeral of Matt Hopper Largely Attended at Roselawn Monday.

The funeral of Matt Hopper, who took his own life by hanging, at Roselawn last Friday, was held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock, at the home of his wife’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Bruechet. It was the most largely attended funeral ever held in Roselawn and indicated the esteem and tender regard with which he was held in the thoughts of those who knew him. He was well and favorably known in and around Roselawn and was a favorite with everybody. He had, a multitude of friends. He was possessed of that disposition which made friends of all with whom he came in contact. His' death came as a great shock to everybody, as he was the last man they would ever have expected to do such a rash act, and his family and relatives have the sympathy of the entire community in their loss. The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful. Several from here attended the funeral. In the article relating to his death, The Republican was slightly in error Monday regarding one or two points. Previous to two years ago, when he was taken ill with typhoid pneumonia, he was a manager of a big ranch near Roselawn. Since his sickness he hits been engaged in buying and selling horses, and be became known as a man of great business acumen. He was near the home of his wife’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. / Breuchet, one and one-half miles west of Roselawn, when he took his life.

The Roselawn Review has the following account of his death and sketch of his life: This community received a terrible shock last Friday evening when it learned the sad news of the suicidal death of Matt Hopper, whose body' was found hanging to a tree in the woods near the home of his wife’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Breuchett, two and one-half milns west of Roselawn. The cause of the rash act is accounted for in this manner: the deceased received a shock while the electrical storm passed over here Saturday, July 13th. He was in the barber hhop of Ike Fisher getting shaved at the time the" lightning struck a tree nearby and the shock affected four persons other than Matt.. It is now thought the electric shock soemwhat deranged his mind. On Friday morning he had arisen earlier than any of the household at theßreuehetthome and procured a rope and committed the deed. None of the relatives, of course, anticipated the occurrence and were not much alarmed over his nonappearance until Saturday, when a general search was made, resulting in the finding of the remains. Coroner Wickersham, of Goodland,'was notified and came and made an investigation Satuf-day evening, after which the remains were turned over to Undertaker Keen. (Martin A. Hopper was born June 6, 1878, at the home place near Roselawn, Ind., and removed to Momence with his parents, where they resided five years.” They he returned# to this vicinity, where he lived until his death. On May 5, 1901, he was married to Miss Anna Bruechet. To this union were, born two boys, Wayne and Charles. Besides his wife and sons . • ■ ■ ■ ■ ' O-. he leaves to mourn their loss his father and mother, three sisters and three brothers. One sister preceded him in infancy. He was thirty-four years, one month and thirteen days old. He was buried from the Bruechet residence Monday afternoon. A large number of relatives and friends were present. Those from a distance attending the fuperal were Mrs. Anna Mead, of Joliet, Ill.; Bert Hopper, of Rensselaer; Jennie Hopper< of Momence, Ill.; Mrs. Nutt, of Buckingham, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dutcher, of Pine Village, Ind., and Mr. and Mrs. Sam Dutcher, of DeMotte.