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Simon Cluck – Suicide in 1890
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 18, 2018
Simon Cluck was born 31 August 1838, in Liverpool, Perry County, Pennsylvania, the son of Henry Cluck (1810-1885) and Mary Susan [Snooke] Cluck. Simon’s father was a miller, but he took up the trade of cabinetmaking which he reported to the 1860 census while living in Mifflin Township, Dauphin County. Just before the Civil War, he married Adaline Yeager. Over time the couple had at least seven known children. At the time of his death, Simon Cluck‘s occupation was undertaker.
Claiming to be 21, Simon Cluck on 16 September 1862 enrolled in the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company I, as a Private. On 5 November 1864, he transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps.
On 24 Jun 1880, Simon Cluck applied for an invalid pension, which he received and collected until his death, which occurred on 6 Jun 1890. His widow, Adaline [Yeager] Cluck, followed suit and received benefits until her death, which occurred in 1931.
Simon is buried at the Oak HIll Cemetery in Millersburg; his grave marker is pictured at the top of this post. In recognition of his Civil War service, his name appears on the Millersburg Soldier Monument.
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Simon Cluck‘s burial (and cause of death) was reported in the Harrisburg Telegraph, 10 June 1890:
Simon Cluck, who hanged himself in this shop in Millersburg, last Friday, was a brother to John Cluck, of this place [Harrisburg].
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An additional mention of the suicide was found in the Juniata Sentinel, 18 June 1890:
A week ago, a member of the family of Simon Cluck, an undertaker in Millersburg, found him hanging by the neck in his cabinet shop, dead. The body was yet warm, but all efforts to resuscitate it were unavailing. The suicide had experienced financial difficulties recently, which is believed to have caused him to kill himself. His age was about 47 years.
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Two portraits of Simon Cluck have been located and shown above. Not much is known about the photos except that in the first one, he is wearing a G.A.R. uniform.
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News clippings are from Newspapers.com.
How sad. I know that PTSD existed so perhaps this was a contributing factor.