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Samuel Newcomb Takes Own Life
Old Soldier Despairs of Ever Being Well Again

Samuel Newcomb, a resident and property owner on Mason St. took his life with a pistol at about half past eleven o'clock Sunday morning. He had been sick for some time and despairing of recovery, took his own life in a moment of despondency.

The deceased was an old soldier having spent the three months previous to the first of the year in the Old Soldiers' home at Sawtelle. On returning to Santa Cruz his sister, Mrs. Redmond, came to take care of him, and for the past four weeks her daughter was assisting in his care. Five years ago hi wife died and was buried from the Advent Christian Church in this city. After that up till the time he went to the soldiers' home he lived in the Mason St. house alone.

At about 10 o'clock Sunday morning Mr. Newcomb was taken with a choking spell, and when it was over he remarked to his niece that another such spell would kill him. She assisted him to an easy couch in the back yard and after bolstering him in the pillows returned into the house. Hardly had she done so than she heard a pistol shot and returning to the yard found that he had shot himself through the head. She immediately called Mr. Eaton, a neighbor, but the deceased was breathing his last, and when Dr. Monnett called it was too late.

The deceased was an upright man, of good habits and associations. He was seventy five years old and a native of Maine. He had lived in Santa Cruz about twenty years . He was a widower and surviving him are three.

Santa Cruz Sentinel (May 8, 1912)

The funeral of the late Samuel Newcomb was held Tuesday afternoon from Wessendorf and Staffler Undertaking Parlor. A large contingent of G.A.R. and W.R.C. were in attendance, and many beautiful floral wreaths were in evidence. The interment was made ad Odd Fellows Cemetery.

Date of Birth: 1837-01-08

Date of Death: 1912-05-05

County: Santa Cruz

Cemetery/City of Burial: Santa Cruz Memorial Park

Plot: D95

Mortuary: W&S

Cause of Death: Sui/GunShot

Occupation: Carpenter

Religion: Ad

Height: 5'7

Complexion: Dk

Eye Color: Bl

Hair Color: Gr

Local Address: Mason St 31

Last City: Santa Cruz

Native of: ME

Father Native of: Robert (ME)

Mother Native of: Lishness_ Lydia (ME)

Enlisted: 1861/07/15

Discharged: 1862/11/25

Military Unit: ME_ 6 Inf_ Co F

Rank: Pvt

Military Notes: R-Charlotte_ DbD

GAR#: W32

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: W&R 1896 Roster