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Bertie Joseph Beavers

Birth	:	20 Dec 1876 Decatur County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	22 Oct 1911 Coweta, Wagoner County, Oklahoma, USA
Burial	:	Villisca Cemetery, Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.9389000, -94.9747009
Description	:	KILLED IN STREET BATTLE B. J. Beavers, former Villisca boy, meets untimely death Sunday afternoon in Bloody Race War at Coweta, Oklahoma. B. J. Leaves, city attorney of Coweta, Oklahoma, and only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Beavers of this city, was shot and instantly killed on the streets of Coweta Sunday afternoon during a race war in which two other white men were shot, probably fatally; a black man was lynched and another wounded. Mr. Beavers was in no way a party to the trouble, but was simply passing by when the fatal shot was fired from... Read More	KILLED IN STREET BATTLE B. J. Beavers, former Villisca boy, meets untimely death Sunday afternoon in Bloody Race War at Coweta, Oklahoma. B. J. Leaves, city attorney of Coweta, Oklahoma, and only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Beavers of this city, was shot and instantly killed on the streets of Coweta Sunday afternoon during a race war in which two other white men were shot, probably fatally; a black man was lynched and another wounded. Mr. Beavers was in no way a party to the trouble, but was simply passing by when the fatal shot was fired from across the street by the black man who was a few hours later killed by a mob as he was being lifted into an automobile which was to take him to jail. The telegram which contained the sad news of the death of Mr. Beavers was received by the family Sunday evening and it is hardly necessary to add that, the shock was indeed a severe one. The parents of the unfortunate young man prepared for a trip at once and left that same evening for Coweta, having returned to Villisca with the remains last night. The funeral will be held from the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Beavers on Third Avenue this afternoon at two o'clock. The young man, whose life was so ruthlessly taken, was 34 years of agenda his sudden and untimely demise in the prime of his life is most profoundly mourned by his many friends here who also extend their deepest sympathy to the heartbroken wife, mother, father, three sisters and other relatives. Deaths and accidents resulting from race wars are serious enough to disinterested persons who simply read the, but when the result strikes a blow right at home as in this case, one more fully realized how many terrible is the sting. A special dispatch to the Chicago Inter Ocean on Monday gives the following account of the bloody battle: COWETA, OKLAHOMA: October 22 - B. J. Beavers, city attorney, was killed two other men, Carmen Oliver and Steller Thompson, were shot, probably fatal; Ed Suddeth, a black man, who murdered Leaves. was lynched and another black man was wounded in the race war here today. Beavers, Oliver, and Thompson were shot during a street battle this afternoon and Suddeth was killed by a mob tonight as he was being lifted into an automobile which was to take him to the jail at Wagoner. He was riddled by bullets, probably fifty shots taking effect in his body. Black men are arriving from surrounding country and an outbreak seems inventible. The trouble started yesterday afternoon. A telegraph operator named Swayer was walking with a young woman, when Ed Rusie, a black man, in passing pushed the young girls from the sidewalk into the mud. Swayer struck at the black man and another white man whose name is being kept secret, seized Ruse and Swazer beat him with his fists. Today Ruse had been walking the streets with a long knife in his pocket, seeking the man who held him. City Marshall Hart ordered the black man to give up the knife and Ruse shot at him. At that instant, Suddeth ran out of a house across the street and opened fire, immediately killed City Attorney Leaves and wounding Oliver and Thompson, al of whom were passing at the time, and had taken no part in the trouble. Suddeth took refuge in a nearby house, which was bombarded with guns and revolvers by several white men. The house was set afire and Suddeth fled. He was shot but not fatally injured. He was taken to the water tank, a rope placed around his neck and he was swung up. It was decided, however, that to kill him would precipitate a general race war, and he was cut down. He was then placed under guard in the vacant house. The action, however, only delayed the lynching, as Suddeth was shot to death wile being taken to jail in Wagoner. The county is populated largely by black people and it was stated tonight that if the blacks were organized they could bring 2,00 men into town beef morning. Black emissaries have hurried out to surrounding settlements with the avowed intention of bring enough people here to wife the town off the map. They declare they will set fire to every house in town. The sheriffs of Wagoner, Muskogee, and Tulsa counties have sent help to Coweta and every means possible will be used to prevent an outbreak. One black woman set out on food today for Redbird, an exclusive black populated town, decrying she would bring every black persons in the settlement back with her. Officers followed her, but failed to catch her. The citizens of Coweta are panic stricken and are poorly organized. They have shot guns and revolvers, but not enough rifles. They are also short of ammunition. The town is without fire protection. A prominent man said late today, "We have been expecting for two years to have to fight for our lives and I believe the time has come. I am confident that the town will be attacked before morning." Muskogee, Oklahoma, October 22 - a long distance telephone message tonight from the Sheriff's office at Wagoner says that a large body of blacks, heavily armed is marching from Red Bird, Oklahoma, upon the town of Coweta. They are swearing vengeance and further trouble is believed certain. There are rumors of other deaths at Coweta, but these cannot be confirmed. Citizens of Muskogee are being armed by the Sherriff and are hurrying to Coweta, twenty-five miles from here. Sheriff Long, of Wagoner County, has dispatched all his men to the scene and has been assured of help from the Sheriff of Muskogee County. Villisca Review, Villisca, Iowa, Thursday, October 26, 1911, page 1

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Bertie Joseph Beavers's memorial?
Bertie Joseph Beavers's memorial is located at: Villisca Cemetery, Villisca, Montgomery County, USA.
When did Bertie Joseph Beavers death?
Bertie Joseph Beavers death on 22 Oct 1911 in Coweta, Wagoner County, Oklahoma, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Bertie Joseph Beavers's memorial?
Latitude: 40.9389000
Longitude: -94.9747009

Family Members:

Parent

Joseph Allen Beavers

(1850 - 1938)

Sena Elizabeth Rosengrant Beavers

(1855 - 1944)

Siblings

Cora Christina Beavers

(1882 - 1971)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Villisca Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9389000, -94.9747009

2. Carlisle Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9225006, -94.9835968

3. Findley Cemetery
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Coordinate: 40.9578018, -94.9571991

4. Bakers Cut Cemetery
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Coordinate: 40.9083200, -94.9585900

5. Arlington Cemetery
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Coordinate: 40.9975014, -95.0093994

6. Nodaway Cemetery
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Coordinate: 40.9627991, -94.8858032

7. North Page Cemetery
Hepburn, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8857994, -95.0511017

8. Fairview Cemetery
Valley Township, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8570862, -94.9671860

9. Mission Cemetery
Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0052986, -95.0603027

10. Sciola Baptist Cemetery
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Coordinate: 41.0340000, -94.9859000

11. Mamre Cemetery
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Coordinate: 40.9865480, -95.0886400

12. Bolt Family Burying Ground
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0362750, -94.9950660

13. North Grove Cemetery
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Coordinate: 40.8422012, -94.9396973

14. Mamrelund Cemetery
Stanton, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9810486, -95.0959320

15. Methodist Grove Cemetery
Nodaway, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9136009, -94.8332977

16. Baldwin Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9768982, -94.8244019

17. Thompson Cemetery
Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0527000, -94.9161000

18. Rose Hill Church Cemetery
Clarinda, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8215000, -95.0340000

19. Guss Cemetery
Guss, Taylor County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8502657, -94.8510869

20. Tabor Cemetery
Wallin, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0543700, -95.0619900

21. Bethesda Lutheran Cemetery
Douglas Township, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8430000, -95.1044000

22. Brooks Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9728012, -94.7953033

23. Strand Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0730000, -94.9100000

24. Mortons Mill Cemetery
Morton Mills, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0793991, -95.0085983