Buchanan County MO Archives News.....Meisker, A. E. Alexander Commits Suicide June 2, 1899 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/mofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Debra Crosby http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002467 March 29, 2019, 1:17 pm The St. Joseph Herald Fri Jun 2, 1899 Pg 5 June 2, 1899 A BULLET IN HIS BRAIN Alex. Meiskel Short in His Accounts, Ends His Life by Suicide DEATH WAS INSTANTANEOUS Dead Man Was a Driver for the Andriano Bottling Works HE LEFT NO WORD TO FRIENDS Body Was Taken to Heaton's Undertaking Establishment After Being Viewed by the Coroner and an Inquest Will be Held Today Alex Meiskel, a driver for the Andriano Bottling company, who lived at 823 South Tenth street, committed suicide at 10 o'clock last night by shooting himself in the head with a 32-calibre revolver. It is thought that he died instantly. He left no note to his wire, but he is said to have been short in his accounts, and the worry is believed to have caused him to commit the deed. Yesterday Joseph Andirano went with Meiskel on his rounds to the different places where he delivered goods. It appears that Meiskel not only delivered the goods but also made collections for the same. The proprietor discovered that the young man had not turned in all the money he received. For this reason he accompanied him yesterday to see the different customers and ascertain the amount which Meiskel was short. It was found to be between $150 and $200. Meiskel is said to have promised to obtain the money and to pay it back today. He appeared to be in a deep worry all day. The trouble is believed to have led to melancholy, and as he did not see his way clear he decided to take his own life. At 10 o'clock last night Meiskel left the house without informing his wife where he was going. A few minutes afterwards she heard a pistol shot. The woman was much frightened and did not investigate the case at the time. Half an hour later Charles Lohr, who is also employed by the Andriano Bottling company knoced at the door of the house. He had been looking for Meiskel all evening. When Mrs. Meiskel opened the door she informed Lohr that she had heard the shot half an hour previously and feared for her husband's safety. She secured several matches and the two proceeded to the outhouse at the rear of the yard. Lohr opened the door. He saw the body of the man lying on hands and knees on the floor. He then lit a match and discovered what had happened. He told the frightened woman to return to the house. She, however, insisted upon seeing what was the trouble. As she glanced through the door she saw the body of her husband lying in the pool of his own blood, with a pistol at his side to tell the story. The terrible shock almost prostrated her. Her cries were heart-rending. The woman was carried to the house next door and was comforted as much as possible by the sympathentic neighbors. Lohr telephoned the central police station and Chief Broder and Officers Kelly and Weber were soon upon the scene. The lifted the man from his crouching position and carried him into the yard, where he was lain on the ground. An examination showed that he had shot himself in the head at the top of the forehead. It appeared that the bullet ranged downward and death is believed to have been instantaneous. Coroner Richmond was notified and he arrived at 11 o'clock. He examined the piston and found that one of the cartridges had been snapped but did not explode. The second bullet killed the man. Meiskel did not remove his hat when he shot himself. It showed where it was burned from the powder of the pistol. The body of the dead man was removed to Heaton's undertaking establishment and an inquest will be held today. Meikel was 30 years of age. He had lived in this city for six or seven years and had worked for the Andriano Bottling Company for about a year. 1899- The St. Joseph Herald Sat Jun 3, 1899 pg 5 Coroner Spier Richmond held an inquest over the body of Alex Meisker yesterday morning at 10 o'clock. Several witnesses were examined. A verdic of suicide was returned by the jury. The body was later removed to the former home of Meisker at 823 South Tenth street. Additional Comments: 1870 Dexter, Union,Dallas, Iowa Edward Meisker Male 35 Saxony(Ger) Cristena Meisker Female 24 Holstein(Ger) Edward Meisker Male 6 Iowa Alexander Meisker Male 1 Iowa 1880 Dexter, Dallas, Iowa Edward Meisker Self Male 45 Germany Germany Germany Hardware Merchant Gustina Meisker Wife Female 45 Germany Germany Germany Otto Meisker Son Male 16 Iowa Germany Germany Grain buyer Alexander Meisker Son Male 11 Iowa Germany Germany attends school Wilhelmina Meisker Daughter Female 9 Iowa Germany Germany Lena Michael Servant Female 18 Germany Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934 Name: A. E. Meisker Event Type: Marriage Event Date: 24 Oct 1889 Event Place: Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, United States Gender: Male Age: 22 Marital Status: S Birth Year (Estimated): 1867 Father's Name: Edward Meisker Mother's Name: Elizabeth Schramm Spouse's Name: Fanny Garrett Spouse's Gender: Female Spouse's Age: 21 Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1868 Spouse's Father's Name: William Garrity [Garrett] Spouse's Mother's Name: Kate Lary [O'Leary Leary] Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934 1891 Iowa Births and Christenings, 1830-1950 Name: Hazel Irene Meisker Gender: Female Birth Date: 12 May 1891 Birthplace: Polk, Iowa, United States Father's Name: Alex Meisker Mother's Name: Fannie Garrett 1898 - U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 Name: Alex Meisker Residence Year: 1898 Street address: 8233 S 10thth Residence Place: St Joseph, Missouri, USA Occupation: Driver Publication Title: St Joseph, Missouri, City Directory, 1898 1900 Washington Township St. Joseph city Ward 3, Buchanan, Missouri Household Role Sex Birthdate Age Birthplace Fannie Musker Head F Jul 1869 30 IL IL IL widow keeps rooming house Hazel Musker Daugh F May 1891 9 IA IA IL Walter Molueoux Roomer M 20 MO John Miller Roomer M 22 KS J Henderson Roomer M 35 ME G Axelton Roomer M 40 MO R Kennedy Roomer M 25 MO John Watson Roomer M 30 OH Albert Carpenter Roomer M 25 KS 1902 Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934 Name: Geo. V. Hand Event Type: Marriage Event Date: 04 Jun 1902 Event Place: Des Moines, Polk, Iowa Gender: Male Age: 33 Marital Status: S Birth Year (Estimated): 1869 Father's Name: J. F. Hand Mother's Name: Mary A. Boles Spouse's Name: Fannie Meisker Spouse's Gender: Female Spouse's Age: 32 Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1870 Spouse's Father's Name: W. H. H. Garritt Spouse's Mother's Name: Mary Stewart 1910 1206 High St. Des Moines Ward 2, Polk, Iowa Fannie Hand 40 IL US US widow rooming house Hazel Hand 18 IA IA IL Harry Fowler Kate Fowler J Penny Mos Penny Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934 Name: Ralph Norton Event Type: Marriage Event Date: 12 Jun 1912 Event Place: Mahaska, Iowa Gender: Male Age: 22 Birth Year (Estimated): 1890 Father's Name: C M Norton Mother's Name: Geneva Humphry Spouse's Name: Hazel Meisker Spouse's Gender: Female Spouse's Age: 22 Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1890 Spouse's Father's Name: Charles Meisker Spouse's Mother's Name: Fannie The Des Moines Register Sun Jun 23, 1912 pg 41 Wedding Announcements Des Moines friends have received cards announcing the marriage of Miss Hazel Hand, daughter of Mrs. Fannie Hand of 1127 High street, and Mr. Ralph Norton. The wedding took place June 12 at Oskaloosa. The bride is a graduate of the Highland Park college of music and well known in musical circles. The groom is with the McNerney Drug company. Mr. and Mrs. Norton will be at home at 1127 High St. 1915 Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 Name: Ralph Norton Age: 24 Birth Year: abt 1891 Birth Place: Iowa Residence Date: 1915 Residence Place: 1200 High Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, USA Race: White Gender: Male Marital status: Married Father Birth Place: Iowa Mother Birth Place: Iowa 1915 Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 Name: Hazel Norton Age: 23 Birth Year: abt 1892 Birth Place: Iowa Residence Date: 1915 Residence Place: 1200 High Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, USA Race: White Gender: Female Marital status: Married Father Birth Place: Iowa Mother Birth Place: Iowa Ralph Norton marries Hazel Smith in 1920 Cook County, Illinois, Marriages Index, 1871-1920 Name: Ralph Norton Age: 28 Gender: Male Birth Year: abt 1892 Marriage Type: Marriage Marriage Date: 3 May 1920 Marriage Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois Spouse Name: Hazel E. Smith Spouse Age: 24 Spouse Gender: Female FHL Film Number: 1030726 submitter is not related and has no further information. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/buchanan/newspapers/meiskera272gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mofiles/ File size: 9.3 Kb