TAPP, J.W. - {from The Prairie Grove Herald} Mr. J.W. Tapp, who lived on Cove Creek, about 15 miles South of Prairie Grove, committed suicide Tuesday night by hanging himself in his room. Mr. Tapp was suffering with derangement of the mind and several months ago was taken to the Asylum at Little Rock. A short time ago he escaped from the Asylum and made his way back home by walking overland. A few days after arriving home he tried to take his own life with a knife, but the wound inflicted did not prove serious. Tuesday night he was left in his room about midnight apparently quiet. But sometime between that hour and daylight he arose from his bed and made a rope of the bedsheet and fastening one end of the rope to the rafters and the other end around his neck, he proceeded to hang himself, his body being found Wednesday morning. He leaves, a wife and several children. [The Springdale News 1/8/1909] James W. Tapp Born: April 3, 1847 Died: December 29, 1909 Burial: Garrett Creek Cemetery - Cove Creek - Prairie Grove, Arkansas ai summary - July 14, 2026 The article you provided is one of the more detailed suicide accounts published in northwest Arkansas newspapers during this period. After researching available historical sources, I found that very little additional information about J. W. Tapp himself has survived, but the article can be placed into its historical context and several avenues for identifying him are apparent. The Newspaper Account The Prairie Grove Herald, reprinted by the Springdale News on January 8, 1909, reported: J. W. Tapp lived on Cove Creek, about fifteen miles south of Prairie Grove. He had suffered from what was then called "derangement of the mind." He had previously been committed to the Arkansas State Hospital for Nervous Diseases (commonly called the State Asylum) in Little Rock. He escaped from the institution and walked back to his home on Cove Creek. Shortly after returning, he attempted suicide with a knife but survived. During the night he tore a bedsheet into strips, fashioned a rope, fastened it to the rafters, and hanged himself. He left a wife and several children. Historical Context This story is significant because it illustrates how mental illness was treated in rural Arkansas around 1908-1909. The Arkansas State Hospital in Little Rock had become overcrowded by this period. Patients frequently left the institution without authorization, especially those judged not to be violent. Newspapers occasionally reported such escapes, although most patients were eventually returned. Walking the roughly 175-200 miles from Little Rock back to the Cove Creek community would have taken many days, suggesting that Tapp was determined to return home. The terminology "derangement of the mind" was the standard newspaper phrase of the era and could refer to: severe depression psychosis dementia epilepsy with mental symptoms manic illness or other psychiatric disorders. The Cove Creek Community Cove Creek was one of the more isolated communities in southern Washington County, consisting primarily of small farms and timber operations. It lay southwest of Prairie Grove toward today's Strickler area. Because neighbors were often miles apart, families caring for mentally ill relatives usually did so with little outside assistance. Several original records are likely to identify J. W. Tapp with much greater certainty: 1. 1910 Federal Census Although he died in January 1909, his widow should appear in the 1910 census as the head of household or living with relatives. Searching for every Tapp household in the Cove Creek Township should identify the family. 2. 1900 Federal Census This should identify: J. W. Tapp his wife ages of the children birthplace occupation years married 3. Washington County Probate Records (1909) 5. Prairie Grove Herald The Herald may have printed: funeral details, burial location, community resolutions, follow-up reports after the suicide. The brief reprint in the Springdale News may not contain everything published locally. 6. Cemetery Surveys Since the family lived on Cove Creek, likely burial places include older cemeteries in that vicinity, such as: Cove Creek Cemetery, White Rock, Friendship, or other family burial grounds in southern Washington County. A Possible Identification The surname Tapp was uncommon in Washington County but present in the late nineteenth century. It is possible that "J. W." was: John W. Tapp James W. Tapp Joseph W. Tapp or another individual with those initials.