Traer Star Clipper, Friday, May 5, 1911 page 1
BALTHASAR BEST IS DEAD
Was First Businessman Traer, in 1873
ERECTED FIRST BUILDING, RESTAURANT
In Hotel Business Twenty-Five Years— Had Notable War Record.
Balthasar Best passed to the great beyond Friday evening. He had been in poor health several years. A few weeks ago, he became a victim of erysipelas, which, with infirmities of age, soon hastened the end. Mr. Best was one of the original members of the old guard who founded Traer in 1873. He came from Tama City and erected the first substantial building in the place, operating a restaurant for a time, later erecting the Best hotel, which he managed for a quarter of a century. He was the first depositor in the bank of Brooks & Moore, and by his death R. H. Moore is left as the only surviving member of the old guard.
Mr. Best had a remarkable career in early life. He was born in Germany March 7, 1838 and in came to the United States with his parents. The family planned to locate in Toledo, Ohio. They were on board a boat from Buffalo and when a few miles out of Cleveland, the vessel burned and all aboard save five or six finished, including Mr. Bests parents, three brothers and four sisters. He managed to swim ashore, although but twelve years of age. He nearly died from exposure and grief, but finally was given a home in a German family. He learned the cabinet maker’s trade and followed it until 1861, when he enlisted in a Minnesota regiment, and through the years of conflict took part in twenty-four battles, including Gettysburg, Bull Run, Antietam and Fredericksburg. He was wounded twice, but not seriously. He was with the First Minnesota in the terrible charge at Gettysburg which history records as one of the most daring and brilliant exploits of American soldiers, when Gen. Hacock succeeded in an almost hopeless effort to patch up a second line after the disaster to Sickles. He expected every man of the regiment to be killed but hoped to hold the field until reserves could reach the spot. He was successful, but at what sacrifice. Nearly every officer lay dead or weltering with bloody wounds. Of the 262 m3n who made the charge, 215 lay upon the field stricken down by rebel bullets, forty-seven of them were in line among them Balthasar Best, and not a man missing. The annals of war have few if any parallels to this charge.
In Winona Minnesota, Mr. best married Frances Salentine, a native of Germany, who spent thirty-six years in Traer and was so helpful to him in the hotel. She died March 28, 1909 aged sixty-three. The couple had but one child, Mrs. W. J. Ladd, with whom the deceased has been given a home since the death of his wife.
Mr. Best was a member of the Masonic order and the G. A. R. post. The membership of both orders attended the funeral in a body and had general charge. Services were held Sunday afternoon at the home, Rev. Gonzales delivering a tender address. There was a large attendance. Burial was in Buckingham. Thus, is at rest one of Traer’s most notable residents, one of her most widely known citizens, one of her successful businessmen, one of her bravest yet most tender-hearted men.
BALTHASAR BEST IS DEAD
Was First Businessman Traer, in 1873
ERECTED FIRST BUILDING, RESTAURANT
In Hotel Business Twenty-Five Years— Had Notable War Record.
Balthasar Best passed to the great beyond Friday evening. He had been in poor health several years. A few weeks ago, he became a victim of erysipelas, which, with infirmities of age, soon hastened the end. Mr. Best was one of the original members of the old guard who founded Traer in 1873. He came from Tama City and erected the first substantial building in the place, operating a restaurant for a time, later erecting the Best hotel, which he managed for a quarter of a century. He was the first depositor in the bank of Brooks & Moore, and by his death R. H. Moore is left as the only surviving member of the old guard.
Mr. Best had a remarkable career in early life. He was born in Germany March 7, 1838 and in came to the United States with his parents. The family planned to locate in Toledo, Ohio. They were on board a boat from Buffalo and when a few miles out of Cleveland, the vessel burned and all aboard save five or six finished, including Mr. Bests parents, three brothers and four sisters. He managed to swim ashore, although but twelve years of age. He nearly died from exposure and grief, but finally was given a home in a German family. He learned the cabinet maker’s trade and followed it until 1861, when he enlisted in a Minnesota regiment, and through the years of conflict took part in twenty-four battles, including Gettysburg, Bull Run, Antietam and Fredericksburg. He was wounded twice, but not seriously. He was with the First Minnesota in the terrible charge at Gettysburg which history records as one of the most daring and brilliant exploits of American soldiers, when Gen. Hacock succeeded in an almost hopeless effort to patch up a second line after the disaster to Sickles. He expected every man of the regiment to be killed but hoped to hold the field until reserves could reach the spot. He was successful, but at what sacrifice. Nearly every officer lay dead or weltering with bloody wounds. Of the 262 m3n who made the charge, 215 lay upon the field stricken down by rebel bullets, forty-seven of them were in line among them Balthasar Best, and not a man missing. The annals of war have few if any parallels to this charge.
In Winona Minnesota, Mr. best married Frances Salentine, a native of Germany, who spent thirty-six years in Traer and was so helpful to him in the hotel. She died March 28, 1909 aged sixty-three. The couple had but one child, Mrs. W. J. Ladd, with whom the deceased has been given a home since the death of his wife.
Mr. Best was a member of the Masonic order and the G. A. R. post. The membership of both orders attended the funeral in a body and had general charge. Services were held Sunday afternoon at the home, Rev. Gonzales delivering a tender address. There was a large attendance. Burial was in Buckingham. Thus, is at rest one of Traer’s most notable residents, one of her most widely known citizens, one of her successful businessmen, one of her bravest yet most tender-hearted men.
Traer Star Clipper, Friday, May 5, 1911 page 1
BALTHASAR BEST IS DEAD
Was First Businessman Traer, in 1873
ERECTED FIRST BUILDING, RESTAURANT
In Hotel Business Twenty-Five Years— Had Notable War Record.
Balthasar Best passed to the great beyond Friday evening. He had been in poor health several years. A few weeks ago, he became a victim of erysipelas, which, with infirmities of age, soon hastened the end. Mr. Best was one of the original members of the old guard who founded Traer in 1873. He came from Tama City and erected the first substantial building in the place, operating a restaurant for a time, later erecting the Best hotel, which he managed for a quarter of a century. He was the first depositor in the bank of Brooks & Moore, and by his death R. H. Moore is left as the only surviving member of the old guard.
Mr. Best had a remarkable career in early life. He was born in Germany March 7, 1838 and in came to the United States with his parents. The family planned to locate in Toledo, Ohio. They were on board a boat from Buffalo and when a few miles out of Cleveland, the vessel burned and all aboard save five or six finished, including Mr. Bests parents, three brothers and four sisters. He managed to swim ashore, although but twelve years of age. He nearly died from exposure and grief, but finally was given a home in a German family. He learned the cabinet maker’s trade and followed it until 1861, when he enlisted in a Minnesota regiment, and through the years of conflict took part in twenty-four battles, including Gettysburg, Bull Run, Antietam and Fredericksburg. He was wounded twice, but not seriously. He was with the First Minnesota in the terrible charge at Gettysburg which history records as one of the most daring and brilliant exploits of American soldiers, when Gen. Hacock succeeded in an almost hopeless effort to patch up a second line after the disaster to Sickles. He expected every man of the regiment to be killed but hoped to hold the field until reserves could reach the spot. He was successful, but at what sacrifice. Nearly every officer lay dead or weltering with bloody wounds. Of the 262 m3n who made the charge, 215 lay upon the field stricken down by rebel bullets, forty-seven of them were in line among them Balthasar Best, and not a man missing. The annals of war have few if any parallels to this charge.
In Winona Minnesota, Mr. best married Frances Salentine, a native of Germany, who spent thirty-six years in Traer and was so helpful to him in the hotel. She died March 28, 1909 aged sixty-three. The couple had but one child, Mrs. W. J. Ladd, with whom the deceased has been given a home since the death of his wife.
Mr. Best was a member of the Masonic order and the G. A. R. post. The membership of both orders attended the funeral in a body and had general charge. Services were held Sunday afternoon at the home, Rev. Gonzales delivering a tender address. There was a large attendance. Burial was in Buckingham. Thus, is at rest one of Traer’s most notable residents, one of her most widely known citizens, one of her successful businessmen, one of her bravest yet most tender-hearted men.
BALTHASAR BEST IS DEAD
Was First Businessman Traer, in 1873
ERECTED FIRST BUILDING, RESTAURANT
In Hotel Business Twenty-Five Years— Had Notable War Record.
Balthasar Best passed to the great beyond Friday evening. He had been in poor health several years. A few weeks ago, he became a victim of erysipelas, which, with infirmities of age, soon hastened the end. Mr. Best was one of the original members of the old guard who founded Traer in 1873. He came from Tama City and erected the first substantial building in the place, operating a restaurant for a time, later erecting the Best hotel, which he managed for a quarter of a century. He was the first depositor in the bank of Brooks & Moore, and by his death R. H. Moore is left as the only surviving member of the old guard.
Mr. Best had a remarkable career in early life. He was born in Germany March 7, 1838 and in came to the United States with his parents. The family planned to locate in Toledo, Ohio. They were on board a boat from Buffalo and when a few miles out of Cleveland, the vessel burned and all aboard save five or six finished, including Mr. Bests parents, three brothers and four sisters. He managed to swim ashore, although but twelve years of age. He nearly died from exposure and grief, but finally was given a home in a German family. He learned the cabinet maker’s trade and followed it until 1861, when he enlisted in a Minnesota regiment, and through the years of conflict took part in twenty-four battles, including Gettysburg, Bull Run, Antietam and Fredericksburg. He was wounded twice, but not seriously. He was with the First Minnesota in the terrible charge at Gettysburg which history records as one of the most daring and brilliant exploits of American soldiers, when Gen. Hacock succeeded in an almost hopeless effort to patch up a second line after the disaster to Sickles. He expected every man of the regiment to be killed but hoped to hold the field until reserves could reach the spot. He was successful, but at what sacrifice. Nearly every officer lay dead or weltering with bloody wounds. Of the 262 m3n who made the charge, 215 lay upon the field stricken down by rebel bullets, forty-seven of them were in line among them Balthasar Best, and not a man missing. The annals of war have few if any parallels to this charge.
In Winona Minnesota, Mr. best married Frances Salentine, a native of Germany, who spent thirty-six years in Traer and was so helpful to him in the hotel. She died March 28, 1909 aged sixty-three. The couple had but one child, Mrs. W. J. Ladd, with whom the deceased has been given a home since the death of his wife.
Mr. Best was a member of the Masonic order and the G. A. R. post. The membership of both orders attended the funeral in a body and had general charge. Services were held Sunday afternoon at the home, Rev. Gonzales delivering a tender address. There was a large attendance. Burial was in Buckingham. Thus, is at rest one of Traer’s most notable residents, one of her most widely known citizens, one of her successful businessmen, one of her bravest yet most tender-hearted men.
Gravesite Details
veteran of Civil War, Co. K 1st MN regulars
Family Members
Children
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