Bertschy, Jacob A.

Other Events:

• Biography: From Find a Grave
• Reference Number: 9653
• 1870 Census: 1870, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• Occupation: 1894; Postmaster

Notes:

Biography:
Jacob was born in Alsace-Lorraine. He was killed by "an explosion of giant caps in the store of the Bertschy Hardware Co." at Saguache. His death and obituary are given in the Saguache "Crescent," Thursday, September 10, 1896, p. 3.
According to the 1870 Census of Outagamie County, Wisconsin, Jacob, 42, appears with his wife Julia L., 36, and apparently their children Frank P., 17, George H., 15, and Adda J., age 12. Jacob is listed as a farmer.
J.A. Bertschy and his wife Julia appear at Saguache in the 1885 Colorado Census. He is listed as a miner at that time.

******************************************
Saguache "Crescent," Thursday, September 3, 1896, p. 2, col. 6:
"Fatal Accident
At 1:40 this afternoon Mr. J. A. Bertschy, postmaster of this place and head of the Bertschy Hardware Company, while showing some giant caps to a customer by some means caused the explosion of the box and was instantly killed. The report and crash of broken window glass quickly attracted a large crowd. Investigation developed the fact that at the time of the explosion Mr. Bertschy was holding the box of caps in his hand. P. W. Luengen, A. Silvas and the miner who was buying the caps were in the store at the time and they all say the caps were not struck against anything. The explosion blew off the hand which held the box and the body was horribly mutilated. The sad affair has cast a gloom over the town. Further notice in our next issue."

******************************************
Saguache "Crescent," Thursday, September 10, 1896, p. 3:
"Further investigation developed, almost beyond a doubt, that the explosion which resulted in the killing of Mr. J. A. Bertschy was caused by a spark falling from his pipe into the box of caps. The meerschaum pipe he was known to be smoking at the time was shattered into a number of pieces. It is known that he had been in the habit of breaking boxes where parties only wanted a few caps, and he asked the customer he was waiting on if he wanted a full box. The supposition is that he opened the box to see if it contained the full number and thus made it possible for the caps to explode. Immediately after the occurrence his son, Mr. Frank Bertschy, and daughter, Mrs. Geo. H. Adams, living in Denver were summoned by telegraph and reached this place early Friday morning. Mr. George H. Adams, who was at the Baca grant, was sent for and came in Thursday evening. They remained until after the funeral and Mr. Adams and Mr. Bertschy closed up the affairs of the Hardware Co. and the entire party returned to Denver on the Monday night train taking Mrs. Bertschy with them.
________________________________________________

OBITUARY
Jacob A. Bertschy, who was killed by an explosion of giant caps in the store of the Bertschy Hardward Co. in this place last Thursday, was burried [sic] from his late residence on San Juan avenue last Saturday forenoon. The services were simple--singing by a choir and the reading of the Episcopal burial service by Mr. C. S. Cornelius. The remains were followed to the cemetery by a very large number of friends.
Deceased was born in Alsace-Loraine [sic] on October 10, 1828; at the age of 12 he, with his parents and two brothers and sisters, emigrated to this country and located near Columbus, Ohio. After attending school for a few years he went to Peoria, Ills., where in 1852 he married Julia L. Pierce, who survives him. He engaged in the dry goods business with the firm of Jonathan L. Pierce & Co., afterward removing to Milwaukee, Wis., with the same firm and continued in that business until June, 1859, when he removed to Appleton, Wis., and engaged in the mercantile business until the breaking out of the war when he became sutler of the 8th New York Cavalry under General Wadsworth, and continued until the termination of the war, after which he returned to Wisconsin and from thence went to Iowa and engaged in the real estate business; thence back to Appleton where he was register of deeds of Outagamia [sic] county for several years.
Mr. Bertschy came to Saguache county about 15 years ago to reside permanently. For two years prior to that time he had made trips here, from his home in Wisconsin, to visit his son Frank, and became largely interested in mining in the Sangre de Christo [sic] range. Later on in partnership with his son he engaged in the mercantile business at Villa Grove. He was at various times a deputy in the county clerk's offiice [sic] here and on the incoming of Cleveland's second administration was appointed postmaster. Last fall he organized the Bertschy Hardware Company.
Mr. Bertschy was a natural merchant, a shrewd business man and an excellent salesman. He was raised in the atmosphere of the store. His father was a merchant and Mr. Bertschy received an excellent practical business education.
He was a man of positive views and plain spoken to a degree--loyal to his friends. Under a somewhat gruff exterior he carried a heart which warmed to every case of want and suffering. He was liberal to a degree and many an act of charity was performed in an unostentatious [sic] manner.
______________________________________________

The undersigned desire to return their sincere thanks to the many good friends in Saguache for their kind sympathy and helpful assistance shown us in our recent sad bereavement.
Mrs. J. A. Bertschy,
Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Adams,
Mr. and Mrs. F. P. Bertschy"

******************************************
Note: There is no stone. Jacob is one of the unknown burials in Hillside Cemetery.

1870 Census:
Jacob A Bertschy42
Julia L Bertschy36
Frank P Bertschy17
Geo H Bertschy15
Adda J Bertschy12

Occupation:
NAME:Jacob A Bertschy
POST OFFICE LOCATION:Saguache, Saguache, Colorado
APPOINTMENT DATE:16 May 1894
VOLUME #:73
VOLUME YEAR RANGE:1891-1901

Jacob married Unknown, Julia L. Bef 1853. Julia was born Abt 1835, , , Maine, USA; died Abt 1931, Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA; was buried , Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, Colorado, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 9653
• 1920 Census: 1920, Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
• 1930 Census: 1930, Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA

Notes:

1920 Census:
Frank P Bertschy66
Mary F Bertschy61
La Vita Bertschy32
Julia L Bertschy84
Walter Deyo70

1930 Census:
Frank P Bertschy76
Mary F Bertschy69
Lyde B Wood69
Ruth Lundvall22
Arthur C J Meshew55

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 9653
• 1870 Census: 1870, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA

Notes:

1870 Census:
Jacob A Bertschy42
Julia L Bertschy36
Frank P Bertschy17
Geo H Bertschy15
Adda J Bertschy12

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 9653
• 1900 Census: 1900, Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
• 1920 Census: 1920, Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
• 1930 Census: 1930, Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA

Notes:

1900 Census:
George H Ad*55
Addie J Adams41
Florence P Adams16
Malinda Peterson32

1930 Census:
Robert S Summer55
Addie J Adams71
George A Summer14
Rae Summer10
Elizabeth King58

Buried:
NAME:Addie J Adams
[Addie J Bertschy]
BIRTH DATE:1858
DEATH DATE:1945
CEMETERY:Fairmount Cemetery
BURIAL OR CREMATION PLACE:Denver, Denver County, Colorado, USA
HAS BIO?:Y
SPOUSE:George H Adams
George H Adams

Adda — Adams, George. George died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]