DEBEER, Margaret 1896-1912

DEBEER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/8/2017 at 13:38:36

Stout Young Girl Burned To Death

Margaret DeBeer Victim Of Wood Alcohol Explosion

Was Starting Fire To Get Supper

A frightful accident happened at Stout last Friday evening when a can of wood alcohol exploded and set fire to Margaret DeBeer's clothing and before the fire could be extinguished she was so badly burned that she died from the effects of the accident twelve hours later.

Miss DeBeer was the sixteen year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter DeBeer. The father is a member of the firm of DeBeer and Ellinger, general mercantile dealers at Stout.

The young lady was at home alone. She attempted to light the fire in the kitchen stove to prepare the evening meal. She poured wood alcohol from a can on to some kindling in the stove. There must have been a smoldering fire in the fireplace as the alcohol in the stove ignited at once and set fire to the can and it exploded with terrific force surrounding the young lady in a mass of flames. She ran screaming from the house and neighbors who rushed to her assistance soon extinguished the flames. Her clothing were burned from the body and the flesh about the arms was burned so badly that it peeled off. Inhaling the poisonous and deadly fumes in itself might have proved fatal. These assisted and aggravated by the burned flesh wounds placed the case beyond the help of medical science.

Miss DeBeer was a young lady who was beloved and respected by all who knew her. The surviving father and mother and two sisters and three brothers have the undivided sympathy of all in their great bereavement.

Funeral services were held at Stout Tuesday and the entire neighborhood attended.

--Grundy County Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 20 June 1912, pg 1

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Obituary
The fatal accident which occurred in the home of Peter DeBeer at Stout, Iowa on Friday June 14th and resulted in the death of Margaret their second daughter on Saturday morning June 15th has cast a deep gloom over the entire community. The great and efficient work of the citizens of Stout, the complete destruction of the home was averted. The impressible loss in the home was the life of their lovable daughter Margaret, who after the night of intense suffering passed away on Saturday morning. The high esteem in which this loved one was held was shown in the large attendance at the funeral services which were held on Wednesday in the Reform Church of Stout and were conducted by Rev. D. Schaefer the pastor who was assisted by an uncle of the deceased, Rev. H. Vogelsonger, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Rochester, Minnesota.

The deep sympathy and loving regard in which Margaret was held were shown in the numerous exquisite floral offerings given by the friends and relatives. Margaret lived her short life in this community in which she was born near Parkersburg, Iowa May 31, 1896. Her life while short was so well spent that her sweet memory will ever remain an inspiration in the heart of all her many friends and companions, early she shored a strong desire to live a christian life which revealed itself a few weeks before her death when she publicly confessed the wish of her heart. Little did she know that she was so soon to be called away, leaving only the remembrance of a pure and unselfish life. She leaves beside her parents, two sisters and three brothers to mourn her untimely death. While the family circle is thus broken yet they cherish the fond hope of the Masters promise. Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God believe also in me. In my Fathers house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you onto myself, that where I am ye may be also.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 27 June 1912, pg 8