Barchfelds Family History

The Barchfeld Connection



The Meyers family had a double connection to the Barchfelds. Helena Meyers, daughter of Moses Meyers and Alice Davis Meyers, married Elmer A Barchfeld probably around 1913. Helena was a 1st cousin of my Grandmother, Alice Meyers. Helena and Elmer had two children together, Alice born about 1914 and Andrew Jackson born about 1916.

What makes this all the more interesting is that Helena's mother Alice Davis Meyers, remarried after the death of Moses Meyers to Elmer Barchfeld's father Andrew Jackson Barchfeld. That means Helena married her step-brother.

Helena's step-father/father-in-law, Andrew Jackson Barchfeld was a prominent Pittsburgh physcian. He was also a member of the U.S. House of Represenatives, serving as a Congressman from 1905 until 1917. After leaving the House he lived in Washington, D.C.


CONGRESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY OF ANDREW JACKSON BARCHFELD

Knickerbocker Theater Tradgedy


Helena Meyers Barchfeld and her step-father/father-in-law, Andrew Jackson Barchfeld, were killed on January 28, 1922 while attending a show at the Knickerbocker Theater in Washington, D.C. The worst snow storm in the history of Washington D.C. had hit the area. On the fateful night snow caused the roof of the theater to collapse. The roof caused the balcony to fall on the crowd below. Around 100 people died and over 100 where injured and hospitalized. Helena was on an extended trip to Washington when this happened. Her body and that of Andrew Jackson Barchfeld were returned to Pittsburgh where they are interred in the Southside Cemetery.




Special thanks to Debbie Chambers for sending me this article



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