The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1914-10-05

DEATH OF OTTO sEKEMEyER.

Io'clock Sunday afternoon at the
Melvin Sanitarium after lingering
ILLNESS from tuberculosis. The de-
lceased had been unconscious duriI G
1.-THE last few days, and WAS unable to
Irecognize his brother Herman
Bekemeyer who came from Spring
field, ILL.,, last Thursday The end
Twas peaceful. The deceased was a
member OF the Trinity Episcopal
church and during the early days OF
that church was member OF the
choir. He was a member of the
Order OF Elks, being one of twenty
five who took out the charter for the
local lodge. In May, 1907 he was
married to Miss Albina Stevens, who
died June Z, 1911.
The deceased was born in SPRING
field, ILL.,, in 1866 and came to Okla
homa in 1890. He is survived by a
father. aged ninety years, two bro
theirs and sister all residing in
Illinois.
| The deceased upon coming to Okla
| homa was connected with the old
Times Journal at Oklahoma CITY as
news editor. In 1906 lie came to
Guthrie as representative OF The
Times Journal and later became ter
ritorial correspondent OF the Wichita
Eagle. When w. c. Renfrow was ap-
pointed governor of Oklahoma, Mr.
Bekemeyer becams his private sec
retary. This position he held
throughout Gov Renfrows term and
upon the appointment OF Governor {.
Mr. Barnes as governor the deceased
was retained in the same position.
Mr. Bekemeyer was warm per-
sonal friend of the late Harper s.
Cunningham, attorney general;
Samuel Overstreet, United States at
torney and of Judge clinton A. Gal
braith, attorney general under Rem
frow and who is now state supreme
court commissioner
Before coming TO Oklahoma, Mr..
Bekemeyer "cubbed" on the Spriag'
field Register, and was a protege or
the late Gene Field. Fields famoua
poem "teonine'' was dedicated to MIR.
Bekemeyer. Through the influence oil
Field, the deceased for awhile essay
ed voice culture. He possessed s
rich tenor voice and participated in
many home talent entertainments. lie
was leader in the Lutheran church |
choir at Oklahoma City, and was re-
peatedly urged by Prof. A. c. Scott,
of Oklahoma City, to take up voice
as profession. AS leading tenor
in the *Head Hunters" the first home
talent musical comedy mounted IN
Guthrie, Mr.. Bekemeyer scored dis
tlnct hit. He had charge OF the choir
of the Oklahoma Vorwaerts society
the German American association, OF
which he was a charter member. Hell
composed the lyrical extravaganza,
"This Is The Life" and dedicated II
to the vorwaerts society.
Mr.. Bekemeyer was deeply con-
with the politics OF territorial
lays and was prominently Identified
With every movement looking to the
welfare OF the territory and future
state. Retiring from the guberna-
orial secretaryship, Mr.. Bekemeyeri ,
ook up special newspaper work until
800 when he became connected with
rhe Daily Leader as special writer
md successively as political reporter,
lews and telegraph editor and man
Lcing editor. Three years ago Mr..
health failed and he was
orced to retire from active work.
zen years ago while interviewing
at Wichita, the deceased
ustained a broken leg when
reight train bumped into the artists
pecial car. This accident confined y
i'm TO a Wichita hospital twelve =
lonths and he never entirely reccv- :
red from its effects. Paderewsh al "
ays considered himself in a way as =
artially to blame for the accident and u
numerous letters to Mr.. Bekemeyer
as profuse in his expressions of
PROV. Aside from many memen- n,
,es he sent an engraved life pass to ce
r. Bekemeyer good for Padere- 10
ski entertainment for self end r,
irty at any time and any place. he
Injury to the leg coupled with Sa
berculosis which the deceased had
,ntracted caused him TO seek DIR.
elvins sanitarium. After eight vi
onths he left the sanitarium much ."
lproved in health Recently his
ndition became worse and he again
paired to the sanitarium. but
spite the ministrations OF science
a kind and loving hands. he grew -"'
A.. u.-sro a., t,oort opd mini no ue