Beumer, William B., 1893-1930

BEUMER, ASCHER, ESCHER, CONRAD

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

From the Rock Valley Bee, September 12, 1930:
(the left-hand edge of the newspaper column was torn away and there was a crease in the middle, with some information missing)

RITES FOR WM. BEUMER

Funeral services for Wm. Beumer, [whose] sudden death was briefly mentioned in last week’s Bee, were [held] from St. Mary’s church in Rock Valley last Saturday forenoon. The services were in charge of the American Legion and he was buried with [military] honors.

The subject of this sketch was [born] in Rock Valley, December 6, [1893], and was 36 years, 9 months [and] 27 days old. He spent the greater part of his life here. He served in [the] world war and received an honorary discharge at the [close] of the [war].

He leaves his aged mother, three brothers and three sisters. His brothers are Sebastian J. [and] Lawrence [both] of Rock Valley and [Jos.?] Beumer, [of] Chicago. The sisters are Mrs. [missing] Duwa, of Independence, Iowa, [Mrs.] J. R. O’Brien, of Rowley, Iowa, and Mrs. V. H. Prunty, [of] Andover, S.D., all of whom were here for the funeral services.

Among the other relatives who attended the services were Joe Duwa, Independence, Iowa; V. H. Prunty, Andover, S.D.; Mrs. G. J. Zettler[?], Sioux Falls, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. John Ten [??]ander, Canton, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Dittman, Sheldon, Iowa; Mr. [and] Mrs. John Escher, Sedan, Minn.

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From the Alton Democrat, September 12, 1930, Rock Valley news:

William. B. Beumer

Wm. B. Beumer was found to have passed on the morning of September 3rd at the home of his mother. He was born in Rock Valley December 6th, 1893. He attended St. Mary’s Academy and later the public school where he completed the eighth grade. He served his country during the World War until his health broke down and he was honorably discharged. He has since helped his brother, S. J. Beumer in the restaurant. He was a member of the American legion. In disposition he was generous and unselfish and a host of friends sympathize with the bereaved relatives.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Foerster at St. Mary’s church, and the Legion was in charge of the ceremony at the grave. Surviving are his mother, Mrs. J. R. O’Brien, Rowley, Iowa; Mrs. Rose Prunty, Andover, S.D.; Joe of Chicago; S. J. Beumer and Lawrence of Rock Valley. One brother, Edward, preceded him in death in 1920. Others here for the services were Mr. and Mrs. John Esher, Sedan, Minn., Mrs. J. Zetter and family of Sioux Falls.

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From the Hawarden Independent, September 11, 1930, Near-By News Notes:

William Beumer, a World War veteran of Rock Valley, was found dead in his home Sept. 3rd. Mr. Beumer worked in a restaurant and had worked late the night before. When he retired he asked his mother to call him about 11 o’clock the following morning. When she failed to receive a response she sent his brother Bernard to the young man’s room, who discovered that his brother was dead. It is thought that he had been dead about three hours as his mother heard him walking around about three hours before the discovery was made.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Beumer, William, d. 3 Sep 1930, Pvt 352 Inf 86th Div., St. Marys Cem Rock Valley IA.

His death certificate adds his full name, William Bernard Beumer; parents Bernard Beumer, born in Indiana, and Theresa Ascher, born in Iowa; cause of death, fatty degeneration of heart.

His World War I draft registration card gives his occupation as farm laborer, employed by J. E. Duwa at Orange [or Grange] Forest[?]; medium height and build, grey eyes, brown hair, has a rupture.

In spite of the fact that his death certificate says he is single and no wife is listed as a survivor, Ancestry.com has a marriage record for someone who appears to be him: groom William Bernard Beumer, residence Rock Valley, age 30, occupation farmer, parents Benjamin Beumer and Thersia[?] Escher; bride Florence Horatio[?] Conrad, residence Ashton, Iowa, age 21, parents Chase Edgar Conrad and Florence Dunn; married at Ashton May 4, 1923.

Also on Ancestry.com is an Iowa birth index record for Marion Beumer (male), parents William Beumer and Florence Conrad, no date given.

FindaGrave.com lists his parents, Bernard Joseph Beumer (1854-1926) and Theresa Magdalena Escher Beumer (1858-1935), and several siblings, but no wife or child.

An online search of Sioux County newspapers for “Beumer,” 1923-1929, did not find any references to a marriage, child, or divorce.