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Subject: [PABERKS] News from Pennsburg - October 31, 1903
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2003 21:38:58 EST
Ref: Town and Country Newspaper
Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA
Saturday - October 31, 1903
THE DEATH LIST
Bertha F. MILLER, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. MILLER, of Red Hill,
died on Wednesday morning after a prolonged illness of consumption and other
ailments. She was born April 15, 1888 and is 15 years, 5 months and 13 days old.
The funeral will be held today, at the Rich Valley church, near Argus, at 11
o'clock. Interment will be made on the church cemetery.
Infant daughter, of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer BIELER, of near East Greenville, died
on Friday, at the age of ten months. The funeral was held on Tuesday.
George MOCK, a well known and respected citizen of Pottstown, died last
Thursday morning of a complication of diseases at his home. Six years ago Mr. MOCK
had a stroke of paralysis and had been an invalid since. Two weeks ago he was
taken very ill, and had since been confined to his bed. He was born in Upper
Hanover township in 1828, and at the time of his death was 75 years, 10 months
and 16 days of age. In youth he was engaged in farming and later in
butchering. For a number of years he operated a grist mill on the West Branch creek. The
deceased married Catharine HOFFMAN and ten children blessed the union: Horace
W., of Pottstown; George P., of Allentown; John H., of Stetlersville, Lehigh
county, and Ella May, of Allentown, the others are all deceased. The funeral
was held on Wednesday. After short services at the late home of the deceased at
8.30 a.m., the funeral proceeded to the New Goshenhoppen church, near East
Greenville, where services and interment were made. Rev. I.B. KURTZ, officiated.
Newton H. KEMMERER, the druggist of Emaus, died of liver complaint on
Saturday after a lingering illness of over six weeks. He is survived by his wife, his
aged father and one sister. He located at Emaus in 1876, and has since
resided there. He was born in Monroe county, February 18, 1848. The funeral was held
on Thursday.
Frederick H. STAUFFER, of Boyertown, died at his home on Saturday evening, at
the age of 81 years. He was taken ill suddenly at the home of his nephew,
Elmer E. STAUFFER, while making arrangements for the funeral of his sister, Mrs.
ENGEL, at Boyertown. Deceased was a son of Hon. John STAUFFER, who for ten
years, from 1840 to 1850, was one of the associate judges of Berks county. He was
next to the oldest of a family of ten children, and is survived by his wife
and one daughter, Mrs. E.C. EVANS, of Boyertown. Two sisters, Elizabeth, widow
of Abraham SCHWENK, of Schwenksville, and Amanda, widow of Rev. A.L. DECHANT,
of Pennsburg, and one brother, A.K. STAUFFER, of Reading, also survive. Mr.
STAUFFER was present at the reunion of the brothers and sisters at the bedside
of a dying sister, Mrs. ENGEL, at Telford, a few weeks ago, and was never in
better health than at that time. The funeral was held on Thursday. Interment was
made at the Boyertown cemetery.
George WENDLING, died suddenly last Tuesday noon, while he was unloading a
load of feed which he fetched at Leidy SELL's mill. He fell over and was dead.
His death was due to heart failure. He is survived by his wife and two
daughters, Sallie and Emma and his aged mother who reside with him.
A.H. GEIST, a well known citizen of Gilbertsville, died suddenly on Monday,
and will be buried today at the Sassamansville Lutheran church. He was a
charter member of the Jr. O.U.A.M., at Sassamansville, and also a charter member of
Gilbertsville Chamber, No. 55, K. of F.
Annie HAAS, daughter of Henry HAAS, of Finland, died of typhoid fever and was
buried on Wednesday at the Ridge Valley cemetery. Rev. WAIDELICH officiated.
Noah LEISTER, of New Hanover, died on Monday evening, of heart failure, from
which he had to complain for some time. The funeral will be held tomorrow.
Interment at Sassamansville.
DROPPED DEAD
Death came suddenly to Albert LEISTER, a well known citizen of Gilbertsville,
while he was talking to Postmaster MENSCH and two friends in the general stor
e of Mr. MENSCH, Monday morning. Mr. LEISTER, who had been employed in the
Gilbertsville creamery for the past twenty years, went to his work at 4 o'clock
in the morning and to the patrons of the creamery he appeared to be in the best
of health. He finished his work at the creamery about 10 o'clock and then
went to Mr. MENSCH's store for his mail, according to his usual custom. He
entered the store and had barely begun a conversation with Mr. MENSCH and two
neighbors when he fell forward. Thinking Mr. LEISTER had been attacked by a fainting
spell, Mr. MENSCH hastened to his assistance. Repeated efforts to bring him
to consciousness failed, and Mr. MENSCH telephoned to Boyertown for Dr. RHOADS.
When the doctor arrived he found that the unfortunate man's death had been
almost instantaneous, and had been caused by apoplexy of the brain. His sudden
death cast a gloom over the little community in which he lived for so many
years, and where he was greatly esteemed. Mr. LEISTER was 50 years of age, and is
survived by a widow and three children. He was twice married. His first wife
was a Miss JONES, of Sassamansville, and his second wife a Miss ERB, also of
Sassamansville. The children are: Austin LEISTER, a clerk in the post office
department at Washington, D.C., by his first wife, and Minnie and Agnes, by his
second wife. Mr. LEISTER is survived by six brothers as follows: Francis, of
Norristown; James and Edward, of Gilbertsville; Frank, of Frederick; Alvin of
New Hanover, and Noah, of Bechtelsville. He was a member of the Sassamansville
Lutheran church, and will be buried at that place today. He was also a member
of five fraternal organizations.
DIED ON STREET WHILE DRIVING COWS
Samuel RIGLEY, aged 55 years, of Conshohocken, died suddenly on Monday
morning, while driving cows near the Seven Stars Hotel. He was seized with heart
attack and died on the roadside before medical aid could be summoned.
A GIRL MURDERED
Another shocking tragedy has been added to the list of crimes which have
occurred in Allentown within the past few months, when Mabel H. BECHTEL was found
lying dead in the alleyway of her home No. 627, Cedar street, by her mother,
at 6.45 o'clock on Tuesday morning. In the morning she dressed and went driving
with David WEISENBERG, a friend of hers. During the night her body, wrapped
in a blanket, was brought back by two men and placed in the alleyway. She was a
worker in a silk mill and was admired by many. She however was engaged to be
married to Alfred ECKSTEIN a furniture polisher of that city. Nevertheless the
girl contrived often to be in the company of WEISENBERG. The girl was
evidently struck on the head with some blunt instrument for the back part of her head
was crushed in and the nose broken. There were also finger marks on her
throat. WEISENBERG is a traveling cigar salesman and he left Tuesday evening for
Newark, N.J., where he was arrested during the day. Alfred ECKSTEIN, the dead
girl's promised husband, was arrested. The girl's brother John BECHTEL, and
Alfred ECKSTEIN are held as important witnesses in the horrible tragedy. Miss
BECHTEL has four brothers in Allentown, Thomas, John, Charles and Samuel and three
sisters, Martha, who lives at home; Mrs. A.C. BROBST, of Allentown and Mrs.
Jacob DAVIS, of Philadelphia. Her sister, Lizzie, committed suicide about 20
years ago in the canal at East Allentown. Later - Thomas BECHTEL, the dead girls
brother, was arrested and placed in prison. On Thursday afternoon at 5.30
o'clock, he was found dead in his cell with his throat cut from ear to ear. He
committed suicide. This act on the part of Mabel's brother shows his guilt and
the police now have almost positive evidence that Mabel was killed in her home
by her brother Thomas, in a fit of rage on Sunday and that her body was
concealed in the house until the night when it was carried into the alleyway by
members of the family. The entire family was later arrested.
WOMAN BURNED TO DEATH BY EXPLODING LAMP
Mrs. Elizabeth WERTZ, of Conshohocken, was on Sunday morning burned to death
by an exploding coal oil lamp. Shortly after one o'clock that morning her
fourteen year old daughter was awakened by her mothers screams. She ran to the
first floor and was horrified to find her mother enveloped in flames. She tried
to smother the flames but without avail. Mrs. WERTZ was burned to death before
help could be summoned.
FORMER GRATERSFORD MAN COMMITS SUICIDE
Many of the residents of Ironbridge and vicinity will be surprised to learn
of the death of John GAMBLE, of Philadelphia formerly a resident of that town.
He went to his room, turned on the gas, laid down and awaited death.
BOILER ROLLS ON MAN AND KILLS HIM
Howard SCHAFFER, aged 21, a native of Kresgeville, Monroe county, was killed
at the works of the American slate quarry at Walnutport on Saturday a boiler
rolling over him. The boiler was being placed in position, when the chain broke
that held it.
GIRL TERRIBLY BURNED
A shocking accident occurred at about 3 o'clock Monday afternoon near
Standard, Lehigh county, in which Annie, the 4-year-old daughter of Charles HEIL,
received terrible burns which resulted in her death a short time later. The
little one's parents were working in a corn field a short distance from the house
when they were startled to see the child running towards them completely
enveloped in flames. The father with much difficulty extinguished the flames, not
however, before the child's body was completely roasted from head to foot. In
some places the body was burned black. The child died before medical aid could
be summoned. During the absence of the parents the child had secured her
father's pipe and in imitation of him struck a match to light the tobacco when the
flame came in contact with her clothing, setting it on fire. Coroner SCHEIRER
held an investigation on Tuesday morning, but did not think a coroner's jury
necessary.
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