BOERSTLER, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel: Died 1907

BOERSTLER

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 12/14/2013 at 12:02:17

Aged Couple Meet Horrible Death Together.

About 5:30 o'clock on Thursday afternoon July 4th, one of the most horrible accidents, known in the history of Van Buren county, occurred one and one-half miles north of Keosauqua at the first crossing of the public road and the Rock Island railroad track.

The west bound passenger train on the Rock Island road struck and instantly killed, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Boerstler, two aged and highly respected citizens of Utica, Iowa. The horse they were driving was also instantly killed and their buggy completely destroyed.

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Boerstler were well known and esteemable people of Utica, Iowa and were well known throught the country, being old settlers, and residents of the country since 1851. They had attended the Fourth of July celebration at Keosauqua where they had visited with many relatives and friends and was returning to their home at Utica when the fatal accident occurred.

Probably every one of our readers is familiar with the public road between Mt Zion and Keosauqua where it runs parallel with the railroad and crosses it four times within the four miles between the two towns mentioned. Mr. and Mrs. Boerstler were always a careful cautious people and it is known that they were especially cautious of this dangerous piece of road and on this day they took the precaution not to venture out on it until they thought the train had came into Keosauqua and departed. Of course our readers understand that the railroad is a spur of the main line which runs into Keosauqua and there for it has been the habit of the rail road company to back their trains into the town. The train was about an hour late on this day and Mr. and Mrs. Boerstler happened to reach this first crossing at the fatal time. The best evidence given at the inquest stated that the old people did not know the train was near until they were on the track and then did not have time to act for their safety. The train was backing into Keosauqua and these good people were coming almost facing the train, their attention was not drawn to it in time for them to see their danger and they undoubtedly met their death instantaneous. The bodies were badly mangle especially that of Mr. Boerstler.

The bodies were removed to their home at Utica Friday evening and the funeral services were held at the M.E. church of that place Saturday July 6th, Rev. Pool of Fairfield conducting the services assisted by Rev. Jones of Bonaparte. The entire community and a great many from other communities showed their last respects by attending the funeral which was one of the largest ever witnessed in that vicinity. Interment was made in the Miller's Chapel cemetery.
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Rock Island train No. 471, Conductor H.W. Crouse, was backing from Mt. Zion to Keosauqua when the man and woman were run down. The train went on into Keosauqua after the accident and after transacted its business there pulled out on the spur to Mt Zion and then on up the road on its regular run. The southbound passenger, No. 472 Conductor T.F. Riley, which was lying on the track at Mt. Zion, went in on the spur to Keosauqua, procured the coroner and taking him out to the scene of the fatality, picked up the bodies and took them into Keosauqua. The inquest was held Friday at 2 o'clock at Keosauqua.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 373, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA

Van Buren Obituaries maintained by Rich Lowe.
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