Obit: Canfield, Judson Chimney (1867 - 1910)

Contact: Ken Wood & Steven Lavey

----Sources: Marshfield News Thursday 2 June 1910 P. 1

GRANTON MAN TAKES PARIS GREEN AND DIES

Judd Canfield, a man of perhaps 45 years of age was brought to St. Joseph hospital Monday in the throes of death, having taken a dose of Paris Green with suicidal intent. After swallowing the poison, whether through pain or to make sure of ending his life, he mutilated his body by using a knife (thought to be inflicted in the groin area, possibly the penis). He was brought here in the afternoon and died in great agony the same evening. But few particulars could be learned concerning the rash act further than during a fit of despondency brought on by worry over crop prospects he went to the barn where he was found by members of the family in an unconscious condition suffering from the effects of the poison and bleeding to death from several knife wounds. Deceased lived on a farm near Granton and was a professional de-horner of cattle. He was well known throughout western Wood and eastern Clark county. A wife and family survive him.

----Sources: Republican and Press, page one, 2. June 1910

Suicide Near Granton

Monday afternoon Judd Canfield, who lived a few miles north of Granton took his own life in a most desperate manner. After inflicting several terrible slashes with a knife, he took Paris Green and also swallowed a quantity of liniment containing carbolic acid. Dr. Rath of Granton was summoned who administered such remedies as he had at hand and had him brought to Granton and taken to the Marshfield hospital where he died that evening. It is evident that Mr. Canfield was taken violently insane. He is a middle-aged man and leaves a wife and three children. He was brought up in the neighborhood and was widely known about the country.

Family Notes

Judson was born in Hopkinton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in Sept. 1867 and died 30 May 1910 in St. Joseph hospital, Marshfield, Wisconsin.  He is buried in the Windfall Cemetery, Granton, Wisconsin

The family believes Judson Chimney Canfield committed suicide when he realized the woman he was having an extra-marital affair with was pregnant with his child. The woman was Myrtle (Osgood) Davis, wife of Kearney Davis a Granton Barber.  Charlotte Davis, Myrtle's youngest daughter, was believed to be Judd Canfield's daughter.  After Judd's death at 43 years of age, his widow ran the family farm.

Marriage 1 Evah Ann Johnson b: 25 Apr 1869 in Suskehanna County, Pennsylvania; Married: 25 Dec 1886 in Mapleworks, Wisconsin (a small community located on the southeast corner of what now is the village of Granton, Wisconsin).

Children 1. Alice B. Canfield b: 7 Aug 1887; 2. Howard Lee Canfield b: 17 Jan 1892 in York Township, Clark County, Wisconsin; 3. Raymond D. Canfield b: Jul 1893

Evah Ann Johnson was born 25 Apr 1869 in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania and died 1 Jun 1949 in Owen, Wisconsin.  She is buried in the Windfall Cemetery, Granton, Wisconsin.  Her father, Oney Johnson, was born 14 Feb 1845 in Newton Centre, Pennsylvania and her mother, Naomi Ann Stark, was born 26 Oct 1850 in Schultzville, Pennsylvania.

1880 Federal Census, York, Clark, Wisconsin

John Canfield, 43 yrs., (1837, New York), White Male
spouse's birthplace: Vermont, United States
father's birthplace: New York, United States
mother's birthplace: Massachusetts, United States
Ethnicity: American
Occupation: Farmer

Household Members

Head: John Canfield M 43 New York, United States
Wife Addie: Canfield F 42 Vermont, United States
Son: Charles Canfield M 21 New York, United States
Son: Sylvenus Canfield M 19 New York, United States
Son: Judsan Canfield M 12 New York, United States
Daughter: Lillan Canfield F 6 Wisconsin, United States

1910 Federal Census, York, Clark, Wisconsin

Judson C. Canfield, b. 1867, New York; Married, White, Male
father's birthplace: New York
mother's birthplace: New York
family number: 10
page number: 1
Household Members
Head: Judson C Canfield M 42y New York
Wife: Eva Canfield F 41y Pennsylvania
Son: Howard L Canfield M 18y Wisconsin
Son: Raymond D Canfield M 16y Wisconsin