Orson Jacob "Ory" Gastmeier

Other Events:

• Business: O. J. Gastmeier and sons Co.
• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/219469844
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-157247
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Notes:

Orson J. Gastmeier

Following a lengthy illness, Orson J. Gastmeier, 65, died at his home, 6 Water St., yesterday.

A general contractor, he operated O. J. Gastmeier and Sons Company, Kitchener. He was a me,ber of the Lutheran church. A son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Otto Gastmeier, he was born in Bridgeport Dec. 8, 1887.

Surviving is his wife, the former Nettie Bisch, whom he married in Hamilton, Oct. 18, 1911.

Also surviving are four sons Clyde and Howard, Kitchener Dallas, Venezuela, and Lloyd of Wellington, New Zealand; three daughters, Mrs. E. K. (Marjorie) Baldwin, Toronto, Mrs. Stanley (Pearl) Seitz and Mrs. Lloyd (Grace) Stoner, Kitchener; and brother, Dallas, Hudson, Ont; and one sister. Mrs. M. H. Schmitt Bridgeport.

The body is at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home where the funeral service will be held Sunday at 3:3 p.m. Interment will be made in the Bridgeport Memorial Cemetery Rev. A. G. Jacobi will officiate.

Kitchener-Waterloo Record 27 Feb 1953, Fri Page 7

Orson married Annoinette "Nettie" Bisch 18 Oct 1911, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada. Annoinette (daughter of Jacob Bisch and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Wahl) was born 21 Nov 1886, , Ontario, Canada; died 24 Jan 1981; was buried , Bridgeport Memorial Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Dallas Earl Gastmeier was born 6 Jul 1912, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 2005, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Bridgeport Memorial Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
2. Pearl V. Gastmeier was born 1914, Allanwater Bridge, Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada; died 19 Nov 2005, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
3. Lloyd Gastmeier was born 1916; died 30 Nov 1999, Wellington Co., Ontario; was buried , Bridgeport Memorial Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
4. Grace Elizabeth Gastmeier was born 3 Jan 1918, Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 11 Sep 2011, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
5. Clyde Alvin Gastmeier was born 18 Mar 1920, Winnipeg, , Manitoba, Canada; died 15 Feb 1995; was buried , Bridgeport Memorial Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
6. Howard Gastmeier
7. Marjorie Gastmeier

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/173918078
• Name: Otto Gastmier
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-44881
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Luyheran
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Butcher
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1883, Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Illegible
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Butcher
• Occupation: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Constable
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Notes:

The Departed

Otto Gastmeier, a member of the county police staff in the early history of Waterloo county, passed away at his home, Frederick street, here early today. Mr. Gastmeier, who was a county constable for 47 years, was in his 74th year and had been ailing for some time. He was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelm Gastmeier who resided in a house where Woolworth's store now stands and used to pasture their cow in a lot now occupied by the Walper Hotel. Mr. Gastmeier was born in Kitchener, at that time Berlin, and was very well known in 'the district. In his police duties he was connected with Con. Gerbig and J. Winterhalt.

Three children, Dallas Gastmeier of Allenwater, Northern Ontario, Rosin J. Gastmeier, Bridgeport, and Mrs. M. H. Schmidt, city, survive. Remains are at the Matz-Bechtel Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements have not been completed.

____________________

Paid the Penalty

The Boy Murderer, Allison, Atones for the Death of Mrs. Orr With His Life.

Friday, Feb. 4th, 1898, was a red letter day in the annals of Waterloo county's criminal history. It was the final winding up of the last chapter in the celebrated Orr murder case, in which James Alfred Allison, the buy murderer, rendered up his own life that the law of the land might be vindicated and to atone for the life of Mrs. Emma Orr, which he so deliberately wiped out on the morning of August 9th, 1897.

The ending of this grave affair, was in one particular sense a great relief to the people, who have been almost daily from the moment the terrible crime was committed until the last act, furnished with about every trifling incident in the prison career of the condemned young man. Frequently intelligent remarks put forth in publie print as coming from the lips of the prisoner seemed almost incredible to people of ordinary common sense when they were confronted with the stern fact that he was a person intellectually. incapable of such productions, being a youth of a depraved mind and entirely devoid of the simplest rudiments of a common school education. I am inclined to think that the kind and accommodating officials of the jail somewhat overstepped the bounds of propriety in permitting energetic reporters to have too free access to the murderer's cell. However, these discrepancies can be overlooked in this case as it was the first instance in the history of the Waterloo County jail that a murderer awaiting execution was confined therein. They are also to a certain extent to be exonerated. for any oversight for the extraordinarily humane manner in which the execution was conducted. My long newspaper career on the other side of the border, and as a reporter on leading dailies, has frequently brought me in contact with such gruesome events, but I must candidly admit that not in all my experience have I witnessed an execution in which such great care was exercised in robbing the affair of its ghastliness as that which occurred last Friday morning. It seemed that every detail was looked after by the officials to bring this about, and that they succeeded most admirably will be admitted by every newspaper man present.

HIS LAST NIGHT

According to all accounts Allison passed his last night upon earth with calm indifference as to the morning when his soul would be launched into eternity. During the lonely hours of the death watch he slept soundly, after his spiritual adviser, Rev. Atkinson, had left him, which was about 10 o'clock. Some time about midnight be awoke and remarked to Otto Gastmeier, the death-watch, "I am hungry; can you get me something to eat His request was granted, and after partaking heartily of the food given him be again retired and slept until six o'clock without any apparent signs of restlessness. He then partook heartily of a breakfast consisting of eggs, toast and coffee.

"Before seven o'clock most of these who had permits to witness the execution were on hand, eager to get inside The piercing cold atmosphere of the early morning was somewhat over looked by those present on account of the gravity of the occasion. High constable Klippert, who represented Sheriff M. Springer, (the latter bring indisposed by a severe cold) and deputy Cyrus Moyer guarded the doors of the jail kitchen through which the privileged spectators would first be permitted to enter in gaining access to the jail yard. Mr. Klippert showed consideration for the newspaper men by announcing that they would be allowed to enter first.

The latter room was a small apartment in which the spectators were rather uncomfortably crowded for about ten or fifteen minutes, awaiting admission to the jail yard and the vicinity of the small stone woodshed in which the grim death apparatus had been constructed a day or two previous. Once in the jail yard the crowd had room for expansion, and, despite the weird and solemn aspect of the occasion an occasional joke would be indulged in by members of the newspaper fraternity.

At about four or five minutes to eight o'clock, Radcliffe, the executioner, entered the cell of the condemned man and with a strap bound the prisoner's arms to his sides. During this ordeal the latter did not utter a word but calmly followed his executioner into the corridor, where the solemn death march to the scaffold was formed. Mr. Alfred Boomer, J. P., of Linwood, and jailer Cook headed the solemn procession, followed by Dr. Webb, coroner, Dr. Bowlby, the jail surgeon, Rev. Atkinson and Otto Gameier, the death watch.

As they entered the jail yard, the spectators formed a lane, and with uncovered heads watched the approach of the doomed youth. While it appeared to some who were evidently worked up to a pitch of excitement over the sad spectacle, that Allison did not show. symptoms of faltering, to the more cool-headed and experienced he gave evidence of nervousness and deep concern. As to the smile on his countenance, referred to by some, the writer failed to notice anything of the kind.

When the procession was marching to the scaffold, Rev. Atkinson slowly and solemnly uttered the following words:
"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness, according to the multitude of thy tender
mercies, blot out my transgressions,"

The last minute of Allison's life was while he stood upon the deadly trap and Radcliffe drew the back cap over his head and placed the fatal noose around his neck, the knot being under the left ear. Just before the bolt was drawn that ushered his soul into eternity, Rev. Atkinson began to pray: "O, Almighty God, we humbly pray thee to receive the soul of this, one of thy children, for whom thy Son". It was but a second after the last syllable was uttered and the head of Allison, which could only be seen by a few who were fortunate enough to have a place near the wood shed door, shot out of sight,and save a heavy-like thud, nothing further occurred to indicate that the executioner had not made a clean.
and successful job. Dr. Bowlby, the jail surgeon, pronounced death almost instantaneous, the neck being broken, although the heart continued to beat about eight minutes after the drop. The official report was that "death resulted from compression of the spinal cord in the cemical region." The jury empanelled brought in the usual verdict, "that James Allison died from process of law."

The body was placed in a plain. black coffin and buried in a deep grave in the jail yard.

H. N.

Waterloo County Chronicle, 10 Feb 1898, p. 8

Otto married Catherine Kleeberger 20 Nov 1883, Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Catherine (daughter of Nicholas Kleeberger and Elizabeth Ratz, daughter of Nicholas Kleeberger and Elizabeth Ratz) was born 1864, , Ontario, Canada; died Bef 1911. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Catherine Gastmeyer
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-42794
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1883, Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/171912174
• Name: Wilhelm Gastmeier
• Name: William Gastmeier
• Name: William Gastmeir
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-130734
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1862, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Butcher
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Butcher
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

J. married Mary Dorothy Steinfeld 31 Dec 1862, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Mary (daughter of Tobias Steinfeld and Maria Pagels) was born 11 Mar 1828, , Germany; died 13 Aug 1911; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/171912240
• Name: Anna Maria Steinfeld
• Name: Maria Steinfeld
• Name: Mary Dorothy Gastmier
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-44883
• Immigration: 1840, , Ontario, Canada
• Immigration: 1857, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1862, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; ?
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Other Events:

• Name: Nikolaus Kleeberger
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-42173
• Residence: 1864, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Teamster
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1878, Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lancaster Hotel

Notes:

Occupation:
The first hotel, the Lancaster Hotel, was built in 1840 and still stands at the intersection of Lancaster Street and Shirk Place (formerly Mill Street).

Nicholas married Elizabeth Ratz 27 Nov 1864, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Elizabeth (daughter of George Ratz and Anna) was born 3 Jun 1847, Philipsburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1914; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Kleeberger
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-42172
• Residence: 1864, Ratzburg, North Easthope Twp., Perth Co., Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Weaver
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-109711

Wilhelm — Anna Maria Ohlegger. Anna was born Abt 1801, of, Doberan, , Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Anna Maria Gastmier
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-109722

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-130738

Tobias — Maria Pagels. Maria was born Abt 1800, of, Germany; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria Steinfeld
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-140538

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: dnf-117032

Henry — Catherine Brick. Catherine was born Abt 1802, Of, Hessen, Germany; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Catherine Kleeberger
• Eby ID Number: dnf-117054

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-117066

George — Anna. Anna was born Abt 1817, Of, Philipsburg, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Anna Ratz
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-117069