Beyer, Otto H., Minnie (Meisner) & Grace died1903

BEYER, MEISNER

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 4/2/2021 at 15:30:10

Otto H. Beyer was born in Germany, May 26th, 1873. When 15 years old he went to England, then to Paris, and in 1892 came to the United States.

On June 23rd, 1896, he was married to Minnie Meisner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Meisner, of this township, who was born Oct. 1st, 1871.

One daughter, Grace, 5 years old, was born to them and died with her parents.

Mr. Beyer has a brother living in California and three brothers and two sisters in Germany.

Mrs. Beyer is mourned by her parents, two brothers and a sister. They have made their home in Chicago but have visited here several times, having been here for the last time in September.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Meisner have had their share of burdens to bear, having been called upon to part with four daughters and a son, all while in the prime of life, and this last terrible affliction has bowed them down with sorrow.

~Elkader Argus, January 6, 1904; pg 5

Fire Victims Buried - Otto H. Beyer, Wife and Daughter Buried in East Side Cemetery

It was with a feeling of horror that Elkader people received the news of the terrible catastrophe at the Iroquois theatre, Chicago, on Wednesday, Jan. 30th*, and when on Thursday the Chicago papers were received giving the details and the list of the unfortunate dead and missing, there were found among the list of missing the names of Otto H. Beyer, wife and child.

Friends of Mrs. Beyer, nee Minnie Meisner, at once became alarmed, the family living in the country was notified and telegrams sent to Chicago to investigate the truth of the report. Late Thursday afternoon word was received that the report was correct.

Fred Meisner, brother of Mrs. Beyer, and G.H. Wilke drove to Guttenberg and took the midnight train to Chicago arriving early in the morning to begin the work of searching for the bodies.

Mr. Beyer was found at a west side morgue by a Chicago friend, and the little girl was found at Rolston's morgue but it was not until Saturday afternoon after a long and weary search through horrors indescribable that the tired searchers found the body of Mrs. Beyer. The body had been previously claimed by some one else and marked identified and had thus escaped the notice of the searchers and it was not until the third trip through this morgue that the body was finally identified. Fred Meisner positively identified his sister as did also a lady living in the same house with the Beyers.

During the search Messrs. Meisner and Wilke were assisted by V.T. Price whom they had met in the city; by the management of Kinsley's Restaurant where Mr. Beyer had been employed for a number of years, and by Chicago friends.

It was a heartbreaking task to wander through the grewsome [sic] rows of dead in the various morgues in different parts of the city and some of them were visited several times. The searchers met with uniform kindness from all Chicago people and every assistance possible was accorded them.

The bodies were removed to Sheldon's undertaking establishment in West Madison street where funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon, attended by a number of former Elkader people who live in Chicago and by Chicago friends. Beautiful floral tributes were the offerings of these friends and Mr. Beyer's employers.

Monday's 'Record-Herald' contained the following account of the death of the family:
"At Sheldon's undertaking shop in West Madison street was held the funeral of an entire family. The remains were those of Otto H. Beyer, Minnie, his wife, and Grace, his 5-year-old daughter. When searching parties plunged into the smoking theatre they found the three members of the family lying close together. The father and mother were badly burned. The little girl lay shielded from the flames under the body of the mother as if the latter's expiring efforts had been this protecting act of maternal love. The child's body was almost untouched by the fire, but the tine arms, where they had been wound about her mother's neck, were charred to the bone. The bodies were shipped yesterday to Elkader, Iowa, for interment."

Arriving at Elkader Monday noon the bodies were removed to the Congregational church where services were held at 1:30 o'clock, Revs. Braun and Baxter officiated. The friends of the family packed the church to the doors and many who came to express their sympathy and sorrow were unable to gain admission. In the East Side cemetery was laid to rest all that was mortal of the unfortunates.

While Chicago was the scene of the terrible affair many distant places shared with it the sorrow of losing loved ones and friends. It was sad indeed to see this family stricken down with sudden death, the parents young and with a bright future before them, the daughter just on the threshold of life. Inscrutable indeed are the dealings of the Power which rules over us and mortals can but wonder that such things occur. The funeral of an entire family was never before seen in our town and sad were all hearts as they followed the slow procession to the grave. Business houses were closed during the funeral as a mark of sorrow.

~Elkader Argus, January 6, 1904; pg 5

*The fire occurred on December 30, 1903 NOT January 30th.

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Added by Reid R. Johnson 4/2/2021:

Elkader Register, Thur., 07 Jan. 1904.

IN MOURNING

The Family of Otto H. Beyer, Perish 1n The Chicago Disaster

Their Remains Brought to Elkader For Burial

In our last issue we stated that Otto H. Beyer, with his wife and daughter Grace were among the missing, and were thought to have perished in the Iroquois theatre. Telegrams received Thursday evening confirmed the sad news that all had perished, but that their bodies had not yet been recovered. Fred Meisner and G. H. Wilke left for Chicago that evening to endeavor to find them.

The remains of Mr. Beyer and the little girl were soon found, but Mrs. Beyer was not identified until Saturday owing to the fact that she had been identified as being some other person by parties unknown. By persistent search she was found on Saturday.

The Chicago Record Herald of the 4th, in speaking of the family says: "At Sheldon's undertaking shop in West Madison street was held the funeral of an entire family. The remains were those of Otto H. Beyer, Minnie, his wife, and Grace, his 5-year-old daughter. When searching parties plunged into the smoking theatre they found the three members of the family lying close together. The father and mother were badly burned. The little girl lay shielded from the flames under the body of the mother as if the latter's expiring efforts had been this protecting act of maternal love. The child's body was almost untouched by the fire, but the tiny arms, where they had been wound about her neck, were charred to the bone."

Their remains were brought to Elkader on the train Monday forenoon.

Otto Hernan Beyer was born May 26th, 1878, in Klosterlausnitz, Saxon Allenberg, Germany. He left home at the age of 10 years going to England, later going to Paris and at the age of 19 years came to America. He settled in Chicago. On June 23d, 1896, he was united in marriage with Minnie Meisner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Meisner, of Boardman township. Mr. Beyer was an employee of Kingsley's restaurant in Chicago, and was in comfortable circumstances, owning a house and lot in that city. He leaves one brother in California and three brothers and two sisters in Europe. His parents preceded him in death.

Wilhelmena Mildred Meisner was born in Boardman township, Oct. 1st, 1871, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Meisner, Sr. As stated above she married Mr. Beyer June 23d, 1896. A little daughter, Crystena Emma, was born to them Feb. 21st, 1897, and departed Nov. 24th, 1897. Gracie Crystena, who perished with her parents was born July 11th, 1899, being in her fifth year.

Mrs. Beyer leaves her aged parents, one sister Clara, and two brothers, Edward and Fred, with other relatives to mourn her untimely death.

The funeral was held at the Congregational church Monday afternoon. Rev. G. F. Braun and G. W. Baxter conducting the services. The sad circumstances by which an entire family were laid low in death, the great sympathy felt for the Meisner family, who it would seem had been through the deep waters of sorrow, brought out a large concourse of people, the church not being large enough to accommodate those who desired to attend. Business in town was suspended during the hours of the service