BOERSTLER, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel

BOERSTLER, WARNER, WORK, NIXON, HENRY, JUNK

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 7/21/2013 at 09:29:59

Struck by Train.

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Boerstler were instantly killed by the westbound Rock Island train No. 471 Thursday evening while returning home from the celebrations at Keosauqua. The accident occurred about one and one-half miles north of Keosauqua at what is known as the flatiron crossing. The train was backing into Keosauqua at about 6:30 o'clock. Conductor Nick Crouse was in charge, engineer Justice was at the throttle(sp), and brakeman Ross was standing at the head of the train as it was backing in.

At the flatiron crossing the train struck the Boerstler rig squarely at about the front wheel of the buggy. The horse was thrown across the track and so injured that it died in a few minutes. Mr. Boerstler was caught on the steps and carried about 60 feet to a cattle guard where he was left against the fence on the east side of the track. Mrs. Boerstler was also caught by the steps and carried about 100 feet where her body was left close to the west side of the track. They were undoubtedly both killed instantly. The buggy was torn to pieces and scattered along the track.

The train was stopped as soon as possible and was perhaps half a length past the cattle guards. Brakeman Ross was left in charge of the remains and the train came at once to Keosauqua where Conductor Crouse at once notified Coroner Sherman and Sherriff Jamison. Train No. 4?4, then went on its run to Des Moines, and train No. 472 in charge of Conductor Riley was sent to get the remains. The sheriff and four or five deputies, and a few others went out in the baggage car and brought the remains to Keosauqua where Coroner Sherman and Undertaker Dodds, took them in charge.

A son, Ira Boerstler and family were attending the celebration in Keosauqua and the shock on them was terrible, almost prostrating them. The entire family have the sympathy of hundreds of friends in this terrible calamity that has come to them.

A coroner jury was impanelled Friday consisting of Geo. W. Davidson, H.E. Duckworth, and Jas. Fowler, and a large number of witnesses including the train crew were examined. The verdict of the jury was death by accident. The remains were taken to the home at Utica Friday evening and funeral services were held Saturday morning.

Mr. Boerstler had a bad wound on the head, another across the abdomen and many bones were broken. Mrs. Boerstler had a wound on the head exposing the brain and she was also cut across the body. Their faces were not badly cut or bruised and there was no difficulty about recognizing them. The wheels of the train did not run over them.

At the point where the accident occurred the train is plainly visible for at least a quarter of a mile and the aged couple were driving almost directly toward the direction from which it came. They must have seen the train, but evidently thought they would be abled to cross ahead of it.

Mr. Crisswell who lives on the Stan. Manning place near the accident said that he heard the train whistle for the crossing, and that he arrived on the scene of the accident a very few minutes after it occurred.

Supervisor Leffler was also one of the earliest to arrive and he remained until the bodies were put in charge of sheriff.

Mr. and Mrs. Boerstler had lived together for more than fifty-six years, had reared a family of eight children and had lived upright lives and did their duty as citizens. Their family had married and left the old homestead(sp): they were spending the last years of their life as they had begun it, in happiness and contentment; and they were both taken from earth at the same instant. They had gone to Keosauqua to get some fireworks, etc. to please their grand children, the trip having been made more for the happiness of others than for their own pleasure.
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Daniel Boerstler was born January 22, 1828, near Hagerstown, Maryland, and moved to Fairfield county, Ohio, at an early age, his parents having died while he was a small boy.

Lavina Warner was born September 7, 1832, in Fairfield county, Ohio, and was the third daughter of Jonas and Susanna Warner.

They were both killed by a railroad train one and one half miles north of Keosauqua, Iowa, in the afternoon of July 4, 1907; Mr. Boerstler being 79 years, 5 months, and 12 days of age, and Mrs. Boerstler being 74 years, 9 months and 2? days.

They were married in Fairfield county, Ohio, March 13, 1851, and moved to a farm near Pierceville, Van Buren county, Iowa, in the autumn of that year. Here they resided until a few years ago when they moved to their late residence in Utica.

To their union were born eight children: Mrs. Annie Nixon, Charles Boerstler, Mrs. Rosaline Work, Mrs. Mary Evaline Henry, Mrs. Florence Emma Junk, Ira L. Boerstler, Mrs. (. . . remainder missing)

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 160, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA