Gerst, Arthur J., 1898-1935

GERST, SCHNEE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:38

From the Alton Democrat, March 15, 1935:

Art Gerst Has Tragic Passing

Arthur Gerst, former Alton boy, died Friday from exposure after being lost in a snow storm in the mountains near Strawberry Valley, Calif., according to information received by his sister, Mrs. Carl Haag of Alton.

He had a claim in the mountains where for the past year he had been “panning” gold, and was on his way to his camp after a visit with his wife, when the tragedy occurred.

He was 37 years of age. Born at Alton, he was reared here but left in his early youth after the death of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Gerst. He went to California about 8 years ago with Peter Koch, another former Alton boy, and the two were prospecting for gold together. Two years ago he was married. He is survived by his wife and two stepdaughters, four brothers and two sisters, namely Ed Gerst of Cedar Rapids, Russell of Minneapolis Rudolph of Waterloo, Mrs. Dominic Jungers of Hospers, and Mrs. Carl Haag of Alton. [yes, only three brothers were listed]

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From the Oakland Tribune, March 10, 1935

SNOWDRIFT TRAPS, KILLS ANTIOCH MAN
Prospector Succumbs to Exposure After Losing Snowshoes During Storm

MARYSVILLE, Cal., March 9.—Trapped in a deep snowdrift after he lost one of his snowshoes, Arthur Gerst, 32, gold prospector of Antioch, California, died of exposure shortly after being rescued early today.

Gerst was caught in nine feet of snow while hiking to his cabin on Slate Creek, eight miles from Strawberry Valley. He spent the night attempting to extricate himself from the deep drifts. Miners living nearby heard his cries for help but attributed them to the howling of coyotes.

He was found this morning and taken to the cabin of Ed Magruder, where he died. Coroner J. P. Sullivan said he would be unable to bring the body out until the five foot fall of snow in the past two days had hardened sufficiently to permit travel to the cabin.

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From the San Bernardino Sun, March 10, 1935:

TWO PERISH IN DEEP SNOW OF MOTHER LODE
Exhausted Miners Fall in Trying To Reach Cabins as Fresh Fall Chokes All Trails

MARIPOSA, Cal., March 9—Two deaths were charged to Sierra Nevada mountain blizzards today…. Arthur Gerst, 32-year-old miner of Antioch, was found frozen to death in a snow drift near Strawberry valley, east of Marysville, yesterday….

The story of Gerst’s death was brought to Marysville by miners who said he froze in a nine-foot snow bank a quarter of a mile from his cabin. It was believed he lost a snow shoe while making his way down a steep canyon from Slate creek in Yuba county, where he had been mining. Dwellers in nearby cabins said they heard cries during the night but mistook them for coyote yelps. They said Gerst must have floundered into the snow drift and was too exhausted to free himself.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The California Death Index has Arthur J. Gerst, age 36, died in Yuba [County], California, 8 March 1935.

FindaGrave.com has Arthur Joseph Gerst, born 17 Oct. 1898 in Sioux County, Iowa; died 8 March 1935 in Yuba County, California; buried in Oak View Memorial Park, Antioch, Contra Costa County, California; parents Gregory Gerst (1840-1922) and Margaret Schnee Gerst (1860-1925). Four siblings listed: Edward Peter Gerst (1881-1968), Frederick H. Gerst (1883-1918), Rose Susan Gerst Jungers (1887-1976), Rudolph Joseph Gerst (1896-1951). No wife listed. There is a photo of his headstone (which gives his birth year as 1899).

His 1918 World War I draft registration card (which also gives his birth date as Oct. 17, 1898), gives his residence as Alton, occupation a trucker for the Chicago North Western Railroad, medium height and build, gray eyes, brown hair.

He is still living in Alton with his parents and siblings in the 1920 U.S. census, occupation laborer; and in Alton with his mother and the children of his brother Fred in 1925. In 1930 he and Peter J. Koch are boarders with a private family in Martinez, Contra Costa County, California, working at an oil refinery. In 1932 he is still an oilworker, living in Martinez with wife Virginia.