Adam A. Pfeifer (1895-1934) – Family Tragedy
Adam A. Pfeifer was the younger brother of my Great Grandfather Anton A. Pfeifer. His life was tragically cut short in a snowstorm after their car slid into a ditch. This tragedy happened on the anniversary of Anton’s other brother Alexander A. Pfeifer’s wife’s death in another winter storm. Alexander was married to Teresa Sack, Adam was married to her sister Helen Sack. It sounds as though the winter storms that came through this area of Kansas are quite severe.
The article was published in The Hays Daily News on February 19, 1934.
HAYS FARMER AND TWO SONS FREEZE TO DEATH
Adam A. Pfeifer, 39, and His Sons, William, 15, and Gilbert, 12, Are Found Dead In Snow, In a Field Northwest of Hays
SEEKING SHELTER AFTER CAR GOES INTO A DITCH
Deaths Occur Saturday Night, But Bodies Not Found Until Late Sunday; Trajedy Recalls Similar Fate Which Befell Victim’s Sister-In-Law On Same Date Eight Years Ago; Leaves Widow and Six Small Children
Adam A. Pfeifer, 39-year-old Ellis county farmer, and his two sons, William, 15, and Gilbert, 12, died in the snow-storm which swept this region Saturday night. The frozen bodies of Mr. Pfeifer and the boys were found late Sunday afternoon in the John Denning pasture one-half mile south of the Pfeifer Farm, which is seven and one-half miles northwest of Hays.
Mr. Pfeifer and his sons left home Saturday afternoon at 5 o’clock to go to Ellis for medicine for Mrs. Pfeifer, who has not been well. As nearly as can be learned, they left Ellis to return home at 9 o’clock that night. They had car trouble and had gone to a garage in Ellis, leaving there at 9 o’clock. The car was found Sunday in a ditch one-half mile northeast of Yocemento.
High Wind Drives Snow
A heavy rain Saturday, accompanied by a high wind, turned to snow at 10 o’clock at night and for a time a terrific storm raged. It is believed the car went into a ditch, and Mr. Pfeifer and the boys, after attempting unsuccessfully to get the machine back into the road, had started to walk home, or at least to find shelter.
At the place where the car was found there were some fence posts and indications were the man and the boys had tried to use them in getting the car out of the ditch.
Bodies Huddled in Blankets
John Denning found the three frozen bodies in his pasture at 4 o’clock Sunday afternoon. The bodies were lying close together and there were blankets around them. Members of the family believe they took blankets from the car to protect them from the wind when they left the car. Apparently the three became exhausted from fighting their way along and succumbed to the cold. Mr. Pfeifer, a brother Anton, said today, had suffered from ill health.
After the bodies were found J.T. Brock, the county coroner, and county officers were called and went to the Denning farm. The bodies were then brought to Hays.
On Anniversary of Tragedy
The deaths of Mr. Pfeifer and his sons occurred on the eight anniversary of the death of another member of the Pfeifer family, Mrs. Alex Pfeifer, who was frozen to death in a snowstorm, Feb. 17, 1925. Mrs. Alex Pfeifer was a sister of the widow of the man who perished Saturday night. Alex Pfeifer and Adam A. Pfeifer were brothers who had married sisters.
Surviving members of the family are Mrs. Pfeifer, the widow, and these children: Arthur Charles, Benigns, Leland, Harold, Adam Jr., and Theresa. Mr. Pfeifer is also survived by these brothers and sisters, Anton A. Pfeifer, Hays, Alex A. Pfeifer, Hays, Andrew A. Pfeifer, Kansas City; Joseph A. Pfeifer, Kansas City; John Pfeifer, Kansas City; Mrs. John Paul, Kansas City; Mrs. Elizabeth Montgomery, Russell and Mrs. Clem Denning, Hays. A sister, Mrs. Anna Karlin, preceded her brother in death.
Mr. Pfeifer was on the relief work list for Ellis county and was to have gone to work this morning.
Funeral services will be at 9 o’clock Tuesday morning at St. Joseph’s church here. Burial will be in Hays.
Front page news of the tragic death of Adam A. Pfeifer (1895-1934)
Saw this while doing some research of my own. My grandmother was Theresa Sack Pfeifer. Of course I never did know her since I was born in 1942.