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https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/MRP7-F9W∼* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Marriage certificate:
Full name of Groom: Jacob Geier
Place of Residence: Talleyrand
Occupation: Farmer
Age next Birthday: 30 years
Color: White
Race: German
Place of Birth: Buschdorf, Germany
Father's Name: Jacob Geier
Mother's Maiden Name: Elisabetha Hebar
Number of Groom's marriage: first
Full name of Bride: Katharina Fuhs
Place of residence: Clear Creek Twp Keokuk Co Ia
Age next birthday: 24 years
Color: Fair
Race: German
Place of birth: Clear Creek Twp Keokuk Co. Ia
Father's name: Michael Fuhs
Mother's maiden name: Margaretha Hensel
Number of Bride's marriage: first
Married at St. Peter & Paul's Ch. Clear Creek Twp. in the...
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https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/MRP7-F9W∼* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Marriage certificate:
Full name of Groom: Jacob Geier
Place of Residence: Talleyrand
Occupation: Farmer
Age next Birthday: 30 years
Color: White
Race: German
Place of Birth: Buschdorf, Germany
Father's Name: Jacob Geier
Mother's Maiden Name: Elisabetha Hebar
Number of Groom's marriage: first
Full name of Bride: Katharina Fuhs
Place of residence: Clear Creek Twp Keokuk Co Ia
Age next birthday: 24 years
Color: Fair
Race: German
Place of birth: Clear Creek Twp Keokuk Co. Ia
Father's name: Michael Fuhs
Mother's maiden name: Margaretha Hensel
Number of Bride's marriage: first
Married at St. Peter & Paul's Ch. Clear Creek Twp. in the County of Keokuk and the State of Iowa the 23 day of January 1884
Rev. P. Fern
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marriage # 2 Jacob GEIER and Katie SCHRAMM married in Keokuk County, February 15, 1887.
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1895 Iowa State census Keokuk County, Clear Creek twp.
last name was spelled GIRER
Jacob age 42, born in Prussia
Katie, age 24, born in Prussia
Jacob, age 8, born in Keokuk Co.
John, age 4, born Keokuk Co.
Mary, age 1, born in Keokuk Co.
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Aug. 1898. Unknown Newspaper:
TALLEYRAND TRAGEDY
Jacob Geier Kills Mats Morhain Instantly. The Crime Was Committed Friday Evening at 9:15 O'clock~~A Keg of Beer Figured Prominently~~ An Old Feud Existed~~Talleyrand in Great Excitement~~Murderer Now in Sigourney Jail.
TALLEYRAND was the scene of an awful crime Friday night, ....[faded line]..from a living state to one of death, by the hands of Jacob Grier. Never before was the town of Talleyrand so shocked and torn up over a similar catastrophe. The people were thrown into almost a frenzy. Murder is an awful crime, and when brought right before the eyes of an enlightened and educated people, it is more or less liable to produce a frenzied populace and a reign of pandemonium. But in this particular instance the calm and sober thought of the citizens of Talleyrand prevailed. In many communities such a deed as was committed, the people's wrath could not have been checked, and a serious outcome might have resulted, causing a black and distorted page on the annals of her history. Before going into details, the NEWS desires to complement the sober judgment of the citizens of our sister town for the manful way in which they handled this voxing problem and serious affair. The case is a peculiar one. The parties involved have a history. They were old friends. The date of their friendship extends back to the Fatherland in Germany. On the night of the murder, a ...[line with blotted ink]...tried to ascertain how ????? about the crime. In the excitement of the hour we gathered together only a few expressions. The details are as follows: On Friday, Mr. Wm. Berend, known familiarly as "Dutch Bill," conceived of the idea that a keg of beer would be a good thing for a party of four or five. Mr. Berend is an elderly man. He has no avocation in life. He is simply a man who takes the world comparatively easy. He has frequently remained at the home of Jacob Geier and was quite often a visitor. He became acquainted with the fact that Frank Hilliard, a teamster of Talleyrand, was going to take his mother over to Keota in a vehicle and thence would go to Harper. Mr. Berend spoke to him and asked him to bring back a keg of beer. He paid him the price so tis said. Mr. Geier also visited him to get in Harper or Keota, a potato fork, a scythe, files, etc., and bring them back to him. Mr. Hilliard was gone a few hours, and at about two or three o'clock in the afternoon he returned with the keg of beer. He unloaded all of them in front of Geier's home. The beer was taken to the cellar, and in a few moments it was tapped, and Geier, Hilliard, Berend had a few rounds. It was noticeable says Geier that Hilliard had drank several beers in Harper, and was to a certain extent, under its intoxicating influence. It seems that Hilliard and "Dutch Bill" had a few words over the cost of the keg. Geier then ordered Hilliard away from the house that he (says Geier) did not want any fuss around there. He went away, but again returned and ...[blotted words]... had another glass of beer ...[blotted words]...near 5 o'clock in the evening Geier then wanted Hilliard to go away, and so expressed himself remarking that he...[two unreadable lines]...get some when sober. Hilliard went away from the house, but returned again with Mathias Mohrain. The two went into the cellar and filled a pitcher, returned upstairs and they all helped to drink its contents. Geier states that he told his children to go and lock the cellar door, and let no one go down under any circumstances. The order was obeyed. In a short time Hilliard and Mohrain wanted to go down and fill another pitcher. They were refused. Presently Berend went down and returned with a full pitcher. The parties all drunk. "The presence of Mohrain," says Geier, "annoyed me, and I did not want him in my house." At this juncture, Mrs. Geier called her husband "Dutch Billie" to come and eat some supper. This they did. After supper, (the hour was not learned) Hilliard and Mohrain again went to the cellar, filled up their pitcher and half gallon jar. When they came up they started up out of the house. Geier says to Morhain: "What are you going to do?" He replied that he was going to take it out to his sick wife. The assertion was doubted, Geier telling him that "you are going to give that beer to the boys on the outside. If your wife is sick, you can take some to her when you leave to go home." Geier then went out to the northeast corner of the house, turned...[two faded lines.]...fruit jar full of beer on his arm. Geier did not like this and took it away from him, saying that "if you can't be honest, I don't want you around." At this moment, says Geier, Mathias Mohrain came up and offered him the price of the beer. He did not accept, but led him to the gate and told him to go. He immediately returned twice afterward, with the same result. However, the third time, Geier gave him a vigorous shove and he tumbled out the gate. Geier says he then went into the house, unlocked a drawer, took out a 32 calibre revolver and laid it on the stove. He says he then saw Morhain come again to the door. He, Geier, opened the door, and Morhain struck him over the head with a lantern, inflicting a gash on the forehead, and causing the blood to rush down his face. "I wheeled around," says he, "grabbed the gun with my right hand, a lighted lamp with my left and went out the door. I fired two shots. I then went out the gate, started west, and fired three more shots. After this I felt faint, went into the house, laid down on the bed and told those present to go and get Dr. Gray for me." Thus the story runs, as told by Jacob Geier, the murderer. Others tell it a little different. Ed Grubb, a respected citizen of Talleyrand, and a blacksmith, says that "Mohrain came to the house and tried to find his hat, which he had lost. He was looking for it when Geier appeared at the door. Geier cursed Morhain. Morhain said that he only wanted to find his hat. They had words and Morhain struck him with a lantern. Geier fired two shots. One of them I could hear strike the house on the...[faded lines.]..., and manager of the Talleyrand creamery, verifies about what Mr. Grubb states. They were together. They remarked to one another, they had better step away, or they would be hurt. After the last shot had been fired, and the awful crime committed, citizens gathered around the murdered man, examined him and seen that life was extinct. He was dead. Two holes were in the back of his head, and one on the side. One of the bullets entered the skull at the rear of his head, passing through his brain and lodging near the eye. Any one of the last three shots might have been fatal. The murdered man was taken to the Baptist church, and a guard of men watched over him. Drs. McFarland and Richards of Keota were ...[several dark lines]...of the Peace Thos. J. Brink acted as coroner, and pannelled a jury, and a verdict rendered that "Mathias Mohrain met death at the hands of Jacob Grier." Ten minutes after the shooting Constables Frank Strickland laid his hand on Jacob Grier and in the name of law, said he was under arrest for the murder of Mathias Mohrain. There was no resistance. He knew he had done the deed. He was guilty. The constable took him to his own house, just the next door. His wife and four little children accompanied him. Some one went to the telephone and called for Sheriff Laffer. The message says," Come at once. An awful murder in Talleyrand." In a few moments afterwards at the hour of 10:15, Sheriff Laffer, Marshal Grimes, Deputy Sheriff Plaff, and a NEWS representative were hastening with all possible speed for the scene of the tragedy. In exactly one hour and nineteen minutes from that time the parties left Sigourney, Sheriff Laffor had Mr. Geier, the murderer of Mathias Mohrain, in custody, and ready to return him to Sigourney, and place him, within the confines of our county jail, branded to the world as a [cut off word.] The parting scene between the condemned man and his wife and four little children was a very sad and pathetic sight. The father was to leave the side of his chosen companion, his little tots, his home, his associates, his all, to mingle with criminals and be placed behind iron bars. Perhaps he could never return. Perhaps law will say, Justice must be meted, but to the fullest ....[several dark lines]... The criminal offered no resistance. He gave himself up to Sheriff Laffer. He said to him, "Sheriff Laffer, I am guilty. But I want justice." He broke down and wept. He could see his little children before him. To leave them to the cruel, cold, harsh world was more than he could bear. He made a request of Sheriff Laffer. He wanted to remain at home that night with his family. The sheriff could not and would not grant the request. He said "All right, I will go with you peaceably and gentlemanly. I know I will get justice. " He was covered with blood, his face was wan and haggard. The torture of mind during the past few hours told severely on him. He was nervous, excited. He was placed in the carriage and taken to Sigourney. On the way he spoke feelingly of the crime. Told all about it. Told of his early life. "From now on," says he, " I am a prohibitionist. I care not who is opposed to it. As God hears me I shall never take another drop of liquor. This trouble is all through one keg of beer." He says, " I thank God that my poor mother and father back in Germany are not living to learn that their son is a murderer in Americhy. It would kill them. Poor mother, she would die of a broken heart. My poor children what will they do? Not a dollar in the world." He kept up a similar conversation all the way to Sigourney. His Early Life. Jacob Geier was born in Buirschgorf, by Trier, Germany, 45 years ago. He has a very good education. He can...[several dark lines] and indulgent father and mother. His parents were good christian people. They were people of comparative means. They did everything they could to give their son Jacob a good start in life. Martin Reinert of this town knew them all in Germany. He says Geier's family were fine people. Were good christian folks. Says his sister is as good, true girl and a devoted christian. Jacob Geier came to this country 17 years ago and located in Wisconsin. Three years afterward, he came to Talleyrand and located. He was married twice. He and his first wife parted a few months after the marriage. He married his second wife 12 years ago. Four children were born to them and ere the case becomes part of the court proceedings, another babe will be born. The oldest son, Jakie, is 11 years old. John, the second son, 9 years of age, Mary, 5 years and Tracy 2 years old. His second wife's maiden name was Catherine Schram. On May 16th of the present year he received $483.00 from his father's estate in Germany. This amount of money was considered by the citizens of Talleyrand as a Godsend. With this money he can only show a few improvements, debts wiped out, and the purchase of the Wm. Bishop property, which was sold at Sheriff's sale a few months ago for the sum of $100.00. Mr. Geier expects to receive from the estate an additional $483.00 as his share. He was a well digger in Talleyrand and a sort of an all around handyman, doing whatever he could find to do. The murderer has some friends in Talleyrand and many enemies. He is considered by some as a dangerous character. He has always drank more or less. Less when money was scarce. More since he received the money from the estate in Germany. On first acquaintance with him, he impresses one as a kindly man with a good heart. Eager to help a friend, kind and generous. 'Tis said that he has been in similar trouble before. Dan Hamilton, his attorney, and ...[black line]... It will probably come up in the next term of court. The case will be watched with intense interest.
Sketch of Mathias Morhain. The murdered man was a farmer residing one~half mile west of Talleyrand. He owned 160 acres of land. Was considered a man of some little means. He was married. Had no children. He adopted a child some time ago. He was a man who drank to some extent at times. He was born in Germany. He served in Company One of the First Regiment. His slayer, Jacob Geier, served in Company Five of the same regiment. They knew each other in the Fatherland. Four years ago Jacob Geier was constable at Talleyrand. There existed some enmity between the two. The nature of the trouble is only conjectured by citizens in that community. About twenty years ago Mathias Mohrain was a resident of Sigourney. He toiled for Joseph Oelmayer in the furniture business. Mr. Oelmayer says he was a good worker but that occasionally he would get drunk. He worked several months and then went down in Clear Creek township. The murdered man was about 47 years of age. His build was rather short and he weighed perhaps about 165 pounds. His funeral was held Monday and owing to the strange and untimely death, the remains were followed to its last resting place by a vast number of friends and citizens who were attracted by the sad fate of a citizen. Thus the mantle is drawn over an awful tragedy and a crime darkens a page of the history of Talleyrand.
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MURDER ~ SHOOTING AT TALLEYRAND
August 13, 1898. Talleyrand was the scene of a brutal murder last night. Jacob Grier shot Matts Mohrain with a .32 calibre revolver and killed him instantly. It happened about nine o'clock in the evening.
Seems troubles had existed between the men for a number of years, and the shooting seems to have been an outgrowth of bad blood for years. Sheriff Laffer was summoned by telephone and with his deputy arrived upon the scene, making the drive from Sigourney in the phenomenal time of one hour and 19 minutes.
Matts Mohrain was 49 years of age and leaves a wife and large family. This sad occurrence has deeply shocked the community
Later: The funeral was held in the Baptist Church at Talleyrand. The biggest crowd Talleyrand ever witnessed was assembled for the funeral. The string of buggies would have reached nearly two miles.
December 22, 1898. The jury pronounced Jacob Grier's shooting of Matts Mohrain at Talleyrand August 12 to be murder in the second degree. It took the jury 15 hours to reach a decision. The penalty is imprisonment for 10 years to life. His sentence was 15 years.
May 4, 1899. It is reported that when Jake Grier was searched at the Ft Madison penitentiary, a watch formerly belonging to "Dutch George" was found concealed in his shirt under his arm. ("Dutch George" was found murdered at his home southeast of Keota in March 1898. )
January 5, 1905. Jacob Grier has been paroled by Governor Cummins and is now at liberty, coming to Sigourney. Grier murdered Matts Mohrain August 1898. He served six years.
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1910: Sigourney Twp, Keokuk Co Iowa:
GEIER, Jacob, 57, marriage 2nd*(*3rd marr), born (Prussia is crossed out and Ger is written in front of it)
GEIER, Mary, 42, marriage 1st, 0 children
married 1 year
Also in 1910 in Keokuk Co, German Twp:
GEIER, Jacob, Jr, 22, born in Iowa
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