39adamstrand:Charles William Post suffered from stomach pains much of his life.  He suffered at

39adamstrand:

Charles William Post suffered from stomach pains much of his life.  He suffered at least 2 nervous breakdowns, which he thought were tied to his digestion.

Post spent time at the Battle Creek Sanitarium, operated by John Harvey Kellogg. In 1895 Post founded the Postum Cereal Co., which made products based upon the diet he learned from Kellogg, including Grape Nuts and Post Toasties.

While Post advertised that Grape Nuts could cure numerous stomach ailments, even appendicitis, Post himself continued to suffer from stomach pains.

In early March 1914 Post was rushed from his California home to Rochester, MN, where he operated on by the Mayo brothers. The surgeons thought the operation was successful at first, but his pain soon returned.

Post returned to California, where he was under constant nurse supervision.

On the morning of 9 May 1914, Post discussed his finances with his wife and sent her on an errand.  He then told the nurse that he wanted to sleep and asked her to leave the room.  A few minutes later, Post shot himself with a rifle he had hidden under his bed.