The Card - Front and Back

The Search for Charles Buehler

(This is a considerable re-write of an article published here about six years ago. I have outlined in detail the research paths followed which may be of help to newer researchers looking for trails in their own research.)

One of my projects is to do a book on the various cemeteries in Pittsburgh that feature in Watch Tower history, particularly for the benefit of visitors/tourists to the area. A title like “Grave Matters” or “Grave Affairs” is likely. (Insert groan.)

Much of the research was done when I visited the area myself in 2014, and various articles appeared on this blog at the time, which will form the basis for the “new” work. But of course, everything needs re-researching in case there is more that can still be found.

This brings us to the strange case of Charles Buehler. A transcript of a death certificate, but alas not the original, has now become available on Ancestry. You would need to visit a record office in person to obtain the original, and since I live 3325 miles away from Brooklyn (give or take), that is a little impractical. (Any readers who can literally make the trip please contact me back-channel.) But the transcript does provide more information to help with identification – or muddy the waters.

But first, why is the death and burial of Charles Buehler of interest? In 1905 the Watch Tower Society through a holding company, The United States Investment Company, purchased farm land for a cemetery. In his last will and testament CTR asked that he be buried there, and in 1916 he was. The whole area was sold off at the end of 1917, apart from a couple of small sections just reserved for the Bible Students. The most famous one had a pyramid monument erected in its center, and this is the magnet for visitors to see.

The pyramid was designed as a family monument for Bethelites and Pilgrims with sufficient spaces for all their names on its sides. As it happened, only nine names were ever recorded, and were on three of the sides, leaving one side blank. The engravings were all done before the pyramid was installed and related to burials between 1914 and 1919.

The whole project was abandoned until burials restarted in 1943, with two exceptions. One was CTR’s sister, Margaretta Russell Land, who was buried next to him in 1934. The other was our mystery man, Charles Buehler, who was buried on this site on March 27, 1925. This is the one solitary burial throughout the whole of the 1920s, but there was no name added to the pyramid inscriptions.

The location of the grave is interesting. Below is a plan of the site, and the grave plots as they exist now including the four taken out by the pyramid. (Originally they hoped to cram in more burials, but a curved hillside site presented logistical problems, and the original plan that you can make out on the sides of the pyramid monument was soon rejected.)

The plan is looking across the site – to the left is in the bottom of the hill and to the right is the top. You can see where the named Bible Students on the pyramid sides were buried – apart from CTR himself, they were in little clusters at the corners of the site. In the top right hand corner were John Perry, Grace Mundy, Henry Addington, Lorena Russell (no relation to CTR) and Flora Cole. In the top left hand corner were Arabella Mann and Mary Whitehouse. In the bottom right hand corner was John Coolidge, whose stone still survives. But the bottom left hand corner was unused. However, it was obviously the plan to start at the four extremities of the Society’s site and work their way inwards. There were going to be problems when they met in the middle, but that was someone else’s headache in the future.

The one unused quadrant of the whole site, section T-47, is where the grave of Charles Buehler is found, in the far corner again, in plot H4. That fits the pattern, but then as noted above there were no further interments (apart from Margaretta Land) until the 1940s when the policy was to now sell off all the remaining plots.

So who was Charles Buehler? It is not an uncommon name in historical records, which makes the search more difficult. It is usually attached to families who came from Switzerland to the United States.

There are three known references to Charles Buehler in Bible Student materials. The first is the 1909 Convention Report. The 1909 Denver Colorado Convention program contained a symposium on The Fruits of the Spirit. C G Buehler gave the segment on Long-Suffering at the St Joseph convention, and his photograph was attached and reproduced below.

When I wrote originally I thought this might be our man, except that the newly discovered death certificate shows that the Charles buried in United Cemeteries was only about 22 in 1909. I think we must accept the above photograph as being of an older man, although as noted below likely related. Then (as far as this researcher’s labors are concerned) there is silence until 1922. In that year the Bible Students’ unofficial newspaper, The New Era Enterprise (formerly the St Paul Enterprise – named after the place, not the apostle) mentioned the Buehler name twice in connection with funeral reports.

The January 24, 1922, issue had a funeral report for one R Fritz who had died in an accident. The report, written by the widow, then residing in Kansas, reported “we secured the use of the community hall seating over 600 for the services and sent to St Joseph, Mo., for Brother M.E. Riemer, who sent Brother C.G. Buehler in his stead. The discourse was grand...giving the divine plan as briefly as possible and the people were very attentive. We have heard many favorable comments, some saying it was the best they had ever heard.”

Key points to hold onto are the reference to St Joseph and the family name Riemer. Two months later, the March 21, 1922, issue had a funeral report for Amy C Merrett, of Kearney, Mo., who “had had present truth since 1883.” The brief report noted that “Brother Charles Buehler of Kansas City, conducted her funeral.” (Kansas City and St Joseph, Mo., are only 55 miles away from each other).

Unfortunately the file for the New Era Enterprise for 1925 is incomplete, which is a pity because an obituary for Charles himself would probably have removed all mystery.

This Charles G Buehler from 1922 could have been the older man from the 1909 convention report, or the younger man who died in 1925 and was buried in United Cemeteries. Our Charles’ death certificate transcript says he died in the Brooklyn hospital, and his given address was 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn. His occupation, obviously in Brooklyn Bethel, was bookbinder. He was born c. 1887 as worked out from his age of 38 at death. He was single. Cause of death is given as septicaemia and osteomyelitis. His “executor” was given as Mr Hugo H Riem, friend (which is likely a truncated transcript for H H Riemer).

Normally Bethelites who died at this time were buried in the Society’s new plot on Staten Island near the radio station WBBR. But, for whatever reason, Charles B was taken to be buried in the otherwise abandoned cemetery in Pittsburgh. There may have been a family reason, the name Charles Buehler also occurs in Pittsburgh records, although as noted above it was not an uncommon name at the time. There are three Charles Buehlers in Pittsburgh directories - for 1884 (a baker), 1902 (a brewmaster), and 1909 (a machinist). Whether different people or relatives of the Charles in United Cemeteries it has not been possible to determine.

It seems most likely that Charles came originally from Missouri. His friend H H Riemer had a connecton there. When the Watch Tower listed names of those who had taken “The Vow,” the class at St Joseph signed from, amongst others, Hugo H Riemer and also a Clara L Buehler. There were actually six Riemer family members including M E Riemer, who was likely featured in the New Era Enterprise quote above. From the August 15, 1908 Watch Tower magazine:

The 1908 street directory for St Joseph lists a Mrs Clara L Buehler and also not one but two different men named Charles Buehler. There is a Charles who is a book agent, and another Charles G for whom no occupation is given. One could have been the older Charles whose picture was in the 1909 convention report (note that his talk was given at the St Joseph convention) and other could have been OUR Charles Buehler.

By the 1910 census the extended Buehler family was grown and scattered and difficult to piece together, but the 1900 census for St Joseph gives the likely branch that included Charles.

We have parents, and then in the full return a total of six children. The parents are the head (indecipherable but sometimes transcribed as Gustave) Buehler and wife, Katherine Buehler. Their eldest child is named Gottfried and was born in Switzerland. The father came to America in 1884, and his wife and first child in 1885. After Gottfried there was Charles, aged 14, who was the first to be born in America. There is a shared gravestone in the Ashland Cemetery, St Joseph, that is for Gottfried Buehler (1857-1926) and Katherine Buehler (1861- 1923) which helps clarify the father’s first name. 

Our Charles’ death certificate gives his parents as Gottfried and Katherine, so it is reasonable to assume that this is the right family and therefore the right Charles. This particular Charles in St Joseph received a life-threatening injury in a gun accident as a teenager, which may have contributed to health issues later on. 

Family records are a headache but those from the Ashland Cemetery suggest that the older Charles G Buehler of the convention report was a relative, maybe an uncle, or cousin once removed, as was Clara L Buehler by marriage to a Samuel Buehler. The older Charles lived on until 1940 but his obituary showed he had severed contact with the IBSA. His funeral was taken by J A Meggison.

So – a chain of possible evidence, conjecture, joining the dots maybe – such is the case of Charles Buehler. Such is the stuff of conjectural research. But the question still remains – why United Cemeteries?

Barbour again

This newspaper article is new to me. It helps solve some problems caused by a defective page in Herald of the Morning. It is from the Rochester, New York, Evening Express of August 30, 1881. I know it's drudge work, but I need basic biographies of everyone on this list. Anyone? Can you do one or maybe two?

So far;

M. Connell, Norwak, Ohio, appears to be Margaret Connell, wife of a well-to-do Blacksmith. She was 41 in 1881.

S. Buvinger, Pittsburgh, was the young son of William Buvinger. A very young child in 1881.

Mary A. Belding, South Windsor, Connecticut. Born about 1821. Died 1912. Married to well off farmer. In 1910 she is widowed living of a private income.

Orville S. Ensign, Eire, Pennsylvania. Born 22 Dec 1827. Died 12 Dec 1911. The 1880 Census lists him as a farmer, supporting his aged parents and sister. A Civil War Veteran. Later married.

Mary Jane Munsee, [Born Wright] Dansville, New York. Born about 1838. Wife of Henry Munsee, a Civil War veteran with the rank of Captian and a teamster in 1880. In 1870 he was a boatman. He died December 1886. She was born in New York. In 1863 they were Methodists. In 1882 Henry [May have been the father of same name] was in charge of track laying for the Lackawanna and Western Railroad. Mary died in 1905.

D. H. Higgins and Wife, Norwalk, Ohio. No information at this time.

Mrs. P. J. Hibbard, Pembroke, New York was Phebe J. Hibbard. She was born about 1830. The 1880 Census lists her husband Charles as engaged in “farming and gardening.”

Barbour's Sermons

I need as many newspaper references to N. H. Barbour's sermons as we can find. Remember that his last name is sometimes spelled Barber. Can you help?

Barbour Book

Before I get too far into S. I. volume three, I intend to update Nelson Barbour. I know enough more now to make a few corrections and add significant detail. If your research can add to the book, please do forward it to me.

I need a techie who can ...

I need someone who can help apply these changes to this blog:

https://problogger.com/protect-your-content-from-being-copied-in-3-steps/

Also, I reject the rather stupid claim that I hate Polish people. I detest thieves and trolls. Certainly, the majority of Poles are neither.

At this point, however, if blogger allowed it, I'd block all visits from Poland, Ukraine, Russia, and Korea. They're almost always from spammers, those who steal intellectual property, or who misrepresent what is on this blog.

This is a history blog. We disallow polemics here. And I strongly resent the theft of copyrighted material.

A Reminder

This blog's contents are covered by International Copyright and United States Copyright. You may link to a post, or quote from a small portion of it, but you may not copy it entire to you site.

This is directed specifically to the Polish readers who seem to have no sense of ethics, law or civility. Stop it.

The Finished Mystery

The March 1, 1918, Watch Tower was a special printing of The Finished Mystery, with a number of illustrations that remind one of the later Golden Age magazine. In the pictures that follow, note the special message printed (over-printed?) on the front cover of the magazine, to get the contents into the hands of those at the front.

William I. Mann

I was contacted by Mann's great grandson. I have permission to share this photo of him.

WT antecedents

Some of you researching American religious history as it is before Russell will find this useful or at least interesting:

https://books.google.com/books?id=iSddAAAAcAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

On the Mount of Olives (1910)

Back on September 17 last year a captioned picture was posted with details of the personnel appearing in the famous scene of the Bible Students on the Mount of Olives. Since then Bernhard has done further research and thanks to him we can now post a more accurate and up-to-date version.

Below the photograph is a list of names. Those in blue print are the sisters, but we cannot at present be sure of exactly who was who in the line-up. Bernhard has also listed those who had been or were part of the group, but did not appear in this particular photograph. Mary Rutherford is one example.

Depending on your device, you may need to click on the image to see it complete.

Our most recent visits came from here:

Lancaster, Lancashire, United Kingdom

Glasgow, Glasgow City, United Kingdom

Ivry-sur-seine, Ile-de-France, France

Monterey Park, California, United States

Whitinsville, Massachusetts, United States

North Kingstown, Rhode Island, United States

Cardiff, United Kingdom

Tacoma, Washington, United States

Daejeon, Taejon-jikhalsi, Korea [Spam visit]

Croydon, United Kingdom

Zagreb, Grad Zagreb, Croatia

Amherst, Wisconsin, United States

Gross Twulpstedt, Niedersachsen, Germany

Frederick, Maryland, United States

Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, United Kingdom

Pechbonnieu, Midi-Pyrenees, France

Medford, Oregon, United States

Tullahoma, Tennessee, United States

Palermo, Sicilia, Italy

Umeå, Vasterbottens Lan, Sweden

Hillside, Illinois, United States

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Thornbury, Victoria, Australia

Visits this past week came from here:

Research Questions

I cannot undertake extensive research in your behalf. I'm old, infirm, and none of the blog writers knows every detail of Watch Tower history.

We expect you to pursue your own research. Yes, I know pinning some things to the ground is difficult. Do any of you think my research has been easy? That it has taken from 2013 to 2020 to finish volume 2 of Separate Identity should tell you that it has not been easy. There is seldom an easy research path. Do not expect every question you have to have an easy answer.

I also do not have time or the inclination to discuss your contrary observations especially when they are phrased or based on indistinct phrases. I may say, for example, that I've researched some aspect of Watch Tower history from many years. What does that mean? Three? Seventy? And when did I start? 1950? 2017? And at what age did I start? Ten? Twenty? Seventy? One cannot date an inexact statement on the statement alone. Do not expect me to engage with you over this or anything similar.

I've received emails from someone in Poland asking to differentiate between a date in October 1914. The event at hand is variously dated to the first and second, October 1914. This is outside my current research, and while it may be important, it is not a subject I'm pursuing or will pursue anytime in the near future. Do not send me a list of modern Watchtower quotations. The original source material is what matters. Find it.

If you can't find it, query the Watchtower Society. They made the claim. They can tell you why they used two different dates. Write them or email them if you have an email contact.

Their address is Office of Public Information, 1 Kings Dr, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987-5500. Include your email address in the return address. Date your letter. Keep your question simple and to the point. Expect a delay. The office of public information is working on some complex projects. No, don't ask what they are. I do not know; I only know of them. An answer will require some time. If your letter is obnoxious, do not expect an answer.

Postcard from Cedar Point

A friend of this blog has sent Bruce a scan of a postcard sent from the Cedar Point Ohio convention of September 1922. It was written on September 11 (obviously during the convention) and mailed on September 13.

Front of postcard:

Rear of postcard:

Close up of addresser and addressee:

Transcribing the card, it was mailed to Walter Hixon, Grand, Okla. and reads:

Dear Bro and Sis,
It seems almost as if heaven has come down to earth. It's wonderful and glorious to be here among 15 thousand of God's people. I wish you could just peep in a second when meeting is on. Will be home for Sun evening meeting, D.V.
Love
Bro J.B.S.

Note from Jerome

Who was J.B.S? Who was Walter Hixon? Hixon appears in the local newspapers several times in this period. From the Ellis County Capital (Arnett) newspaper for 6 August, 1920:

This ran for a number of weeks in this newspaper. Then in 1921, the Ellis County Capital for 29 April, 1921, carried this notice:

Out of available records on the Ancestry site about the only candidate I could find for Walter Hixon is a Walter H. Hixson. He was a farmer who was born 1874 and died 16 April 1958. He died in Ellis County, Oklahoma. At the time the Cedar Point postcard was written, Grand was the county seat of Ellis County. Hixson's photograph and family details are on Find a Grave, but I have not been able to find anything to connect him with the Bible Student movement. Can other readers supply more?

To add to Jerome's article:
From the St. Paul Enterprise, March 7, 1922

Margaret Land's obituary

As a footnote to history, here is CTR's sister's obituary.

As is common with obits, they are probably given to a junior reporter who doesn't get the facts right. You will notice a familial error in the report, but of course the main person who could ensure accuracy isn't there to do so.

From the Tampa Bay Times of November 29, 1934.

The published will of CTR gives his sister's name as Mrs. M. M. Land, but other references give the middle initial as R for Russell, including her death certificate. One wonders whether there was just a misprint in the published will.

Addenda

Mike C has kindly sent scans of Margaret Land's published poem. It again shows her name as Margaret Russell Land.

New to my research collection

Volume 2 only. Notes by Rufus Wendell, Jonas Wendell's nephew and with Storrs one of the organizers of the Life and Advent Union.

You might find this useful

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bible-Students-Monthly-Volume-7-Number-3-Law-of-Retribution-Watchtower-Jehovah/362888511377?hash=item547dd73f91:g:OLYAAOSwNcReJfPx

You

In the last few years research into the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses has resulted in books and journal articles of mixed character, but often better than the few academic works previously printed. But coverage of the Russell era has not materially improved. Judging by content and limited contact with some of the authors, the fault seems to be lack of thorough research.

Some of those who visit this blog have notable research and writing skills. A few of us are aging. And we won’t be here forever. It’s past time for you to turn your talent into writing based on fresh research. Anyone can repeat the nonsense written by those who preceded them. A convention of academic writing is to reference and repeat what others have written. This nonsense takes the place of solid, fresh research. Where are the newer writers? Why haven’t you done your best to add to quality research?

It’s time to create a flood of deep, accurate research. If you want to see better quality books and articles, you must take up the task. No-one else is.

A 'new' picture of Charles T Russell and his wife, Maria

Photographs of Maria Russell are hard to find. There is one undated and one from c. 1894 with her husband, Charles. Then there is a line drawing from a 1906 newspaper during a court hearing. From the Pittsburgh Press for April 26, 1906:

And – while you cannot recognise her – in one of the funeral pictures for CTR she is pictured wearing a long dark veil, according to the identification made in the St Paul Enterprise newspaper. There are two heavily veiled ladies in the photograph and the other is likely her sister Emma.

From the description by William Abbott in the funeral number of the St Paul Enterprise newspaper for November 14, 1916:

But returning to a recognisable picture of Maria, there is another example from what will already be a well known photograph. Most will be familiar with the group photograph of the first main Watch Tower Convention held in Chicago in 1893. It was reproduced in the Chicago City Temple brochure in 1914.

Most copies in circulation have low definition so are not easy to examine that closely. One usually looks at the bottom right hand corner where you can see Rose Ball and Ernest Henninges sitting next to each other on the grass, a couple of years before their marriage. But in the middle of the picture, as one would expect, is CTR. And next to him we must assume is Maria. Maria had a very high profile at this time, and would no doubt have gone to Chicago because that was where her brother, Lemuel, lived.

I am grateful to Bernhard who has superimposed our known photographs of CTR and Maria from this era, next to the selective enlargement from a better quality print than is normally seen.

First there is the portrait of CTR. Compared with another photograph from the same era, while he appears a little thinner in the face from this angle; it is obviously the same person.

Then there is the portrait of Maria, compared with the two known portraits of her mentioned above. There are some superimposed lines between the pictures to show the similarities in features.

From this evidence I believe we can safely assume that it really was Maria in the 1893 group photograph.

So here is the ‘new’ photograph again.

originally published on https://jeromehistory.blogspot.com/

I'd love to own this

wouldn't you? But, alas, I could pay off one of our medical bills if I had this much money in my pocket.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Edward-Bishop-Elliott-Horae-Apocalypticae-4vols-AUTHORS-COPY-w-notes-prophecy/261872896902?hash=item3cf8d74b86:g:OC4AAOSwEeFVQ6ot

1914 Convention

A convention souvenir from 1914. It's on ebay. It's interesting. Enjoy.

Research Need

I need contemporary clergy reactions to Millennial Dawn IV The Day of Vengeance, later entitled The Battle of Armageddon. Can you help?