Emma May Beecher ⁴

   FamilySearch ID: 96DS-822.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Census in 1880 in York, York, PA. ⁸ The 1880 census recorded at 227 West Market Street: Henry J. Gresley, butcher, 46, living with his second wife, Mary H., 30, who married Henry after she divorced her first husband, Elias Beecher. Living in their home are step-children: Emma M. Beecher, 14 (whose future husband Charles Kurtz is listed below); and Elmer B. Beecher, 6; and the Gresley children: David A. Gresley, 20; Bertha L. Gresley, 14; and 12-year old twins Nellia G. and Robert J. Gresley. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

Living at 219 West Market Street is Henry's father, grocer Andrew Gresley, 77, and Henry's step-mother, Sophia, 53, and their children: Mary, 28; Jennie, 20; Ella, 19; Lizzie, 17; and Andrew, 11. Andrew was born in Baden, Germany, and Sophia in Hanover, Germany, and their children in Pennsylvania.

On the same census page at 215 West Market Street: William H. Kurtz, leather and malt manufacturer, 57, living with wife Julia, 37; Charles, clerk in malt house, 23, who later marries Emma Beecher ; and daughter Julia, 21. They and their parents were born in Pennsylvania. Also in the home are servants Catharine Foust, 37, and Amanda Riegraff, 19.

2. Newspaper: Harrisburg Daily Independent: "A romantic marriage took place at York Sunday night, being the union of F. A. C. Pereyra, of Lima, Peru, to Miss Emma Beecher, step daughterof Mr. Gressly, of that borough.", 27 Jan 1885, Harrisburg, Dauphin, PA. ²

3. Newspaper: York Daily: A Brief Romance -- A "Prominent Peruvian Politician" Who Turned Out an Adventurer", 2 Feb 1885, York, York, PA. ⁹ A week ago yesterday a marriage was performed in this city which gave rise to no little gossip, on account of some alleged romantic features connected therewith. The groom's name was given as F. A. C. Pereyra, of Lima, Peru, and he was described as a "prominent Peruvian politician", an alliterative designation, as the sequel shows, that was quite as premature as Rev. Burchard's historic utterance was fatal. The bride was Miss Emma Beecher, a step-daughter of ex-Chief Burgess Gresly, who met Mr. Pereyra during a visit to New York, at which time he represented himself as a diamond broker. It was also said that he was closely identified with the Peruvian government, though temporarily out of power for the reason that he belongs to the party now in the minority in that country. After the nupitals were performed and Mr. and Mrs. Pereyra left for the South with the avowed intention of spending a honeymoon in travel in this and foreign countries.
On Saturday the bride returned to her home in this city without her husband, in whom, in transpires, she was wofully deceived. They went from York to Baltimore, where in a very short time she had her eyes opened to the fact the Peruvian was not what he claimed to be. He left her on Friday without giving her a clue to his destination, saying that detectives were pursuing him and that he must leaave her to escape from them. She was led to believe that his transgression of the law consisted in smuggling diamonds and other goods. He had in his possession quantitites of diamonds, silverware, cutlery, etc., supposed to have been smuggled, though how they may have been acquired is, of course, unknown.
The moral of the story is obvious. The lesson should impress young ladies with the importance of inquiring into the autecedents of well-dressed, smooth-talking strangers who may desire their hands in marriage.

4. Newspaper: Philadelphia Times: A Bride in Distress, 3 Feb 1885, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. ¹⁰ The Misfortunes of a Young Woman of York Who Married a Peruvian.
From the Baltimore Sun.
On Saturday Police Marshal Gray received a dispatch from Inspector Byrnes, of New York, asking him to arrest a man named F. A. C. Pereyra, a Peruvian, who was supposed to be in Baltimore and was wanted in New York for larceny. The marshal found that Pereyra, with his bride of a week, had been stopping at Guy's Hotel, but he had left suddenly on Friday morning, leaving his wife behind. Mrs. Pereyra was Miss Emma Beecher, of York, Pa. She met Pereyra for the first time while visiting relatives in New York last July. He then represented himself as a diamond broker. There is no doubt but that he is a Peruvian. He said he was from Lima. He lived well, seemed to have plenty of money and made every one believe he was a wealthy man. An intimacy sprang up between Miss Beecher and Pereyra, which ended in their wedding in York ten days ago. Mr. H. J. Gresly,of York, Miss Beecher's stepfather, who is in business and is well known and popular there, thought Pereyra a thorough gentleman, and there was no objection to the marriage. Pereyra seemed to have plenty of money and gave the officiating minister $50 as a marriage fee.
They came to Baltimore yesterday a week and put up at Guy's Hotel. The bride has relatives in this city. Pereyra ran up big bills at the hotel and when payment was demanded he turned over a lot of jewelry of little value. Then he disappeared and the disconsolate bride has gone to the house of her friends.
In New York Pereyra stopped at the Lennox House. He also stopped in Philadelphia, at the Lafayette Hotel, and while at Guy's telegraphed there for a trunk he had left, but it was not sent on. He is a short, nicely-built young man, talks with a foreign accent and always dresses well.

5. Newspaper: York Daily: More About The Pereyra Honeymoon, 3 Feb 1885, York, York, PA. ¹¹ A Peruvian Count's Bridal Trip and Its Consequences
From the Baltimore American.
About a week ago a distinguished-looking man walked into Guy's Hotel and registered "F. A. C. Pereyra and wife, Philadelphia." He said he was on his bridal tour, and asked for a parlor and bedroom. The hotel was full, and there were other bridal parties in the house, including Editor Posey and wife; but Mr. Boylan fixed up a suite for the distinguished couple. Soon after his arrival the gentleman announced himself as a Peruvian count, and said he was engaged in the diamond business. He lived well, ordering expensive meals, the bills often amounting to five or six dollars each. For a few days the checks were paid after each meal, but at length the Count spoke to the waiter, and said he objected to putting his hand in his pocket all the time and paying out cash. His wife too, might have friends visiting her, and it was disagreeable after each meal to pay the money, and so he requested they be allowed to go on the bill. This privilege was accorded him until the bill ran up to a large figure. Then Mr. Boylan went to the Count and requested payment. The gentleman at first seemed to resent the request, and then said: "I am about to leave, and will pay you all to-morrow. I am a little short of funds now, but I will give you a check now." Mr Boylan refused to take a check, and demanded the money. To this the Count repliled that he would give him collateral for his bill, but added: "I prefer not to do this, because if I should give up my diamond ring or my watch my wife would miss it, and, as this is my wedding tour, I do not wish anything to occur to mar it. I except money in a few days and your bill shall be paid." To this Mr. Boylan refused to listen and demanded the watch. It was given him. Next morning - Thursday of last week - the Count wished to leave the hotel, but the proprietor refused to let him go. The Count when he learned of this, went to Mr. Boylan in a towering rage and exclaimed:
"You have my watch; is that not enough for my bill?"
"No," replied Mr. Boylan, "I have had the watch examined and find is only worth $10."
The Count then went to his room and the proprietor of the hotel to market. During the absence of the latter his guest disappeared, leaving his wife along in the hotel. Pereyra acted strangely in his room. He was nervous and walked the floor, and seemed anxious to get away. His conduct excited his new-made wife's suspicions, and soon after his departure she began to look among her jewels, and found her valuable necklace and locket, the wedding gift of her mother, gone. She then determined to go home, and left for York, Pa., where she resided. Later in the day Mr. Boylan received a letter from Pereyra, which was written in Baltimore, but mailed en route to Washington. Pereyra stated that he had left the city for a few days, but that relations of his wife living at Harlem Square would call and pay the bill. He begged Mr. Boylan not to disclose his troubles to his wife, calling upon his honor as a gentleman not to betray him. A letter was also received at Guy's from Pereyra to his wife, but it came too late and was opened by her stepfather, who came down from York to investigate the matter. In this letter Pereyra said he was obliged to leave the city for a few days, as he was watched and followed, but would return soon to his wife. The bride, who is now in York, is well known here and in her native city. Her maiden name was Petersen. Her step-father's name is Gresley, and he is a prominent merchant in York. He said in an interview that she met Pereyra last July , at the resident of a Mr. Felt, in New York, where he represented himself as a diamond merchant. He had called on her in York and won her. They were married a few days ago and came to Baltimore. Their honeymoon was short and anything but sweet.
The Baltimore Sun relates the count's conduct at Guy's Hotel substantially as the American, and furnishes the following additional.
On Saturday Police Marshal Gray received a dispatch from Inspector Byrnes, of New York, asking him to arrest a man named F. A. C. Pereyra, a Peruvian, who was supposed to be in Baltimore and was wanted in New York for larceny. The Marshal found that Pereyra, with his bride of a week, had been stopping at Guy's Hotel, but he had left suddenly on Friday morning, leaving his wife behind. Mrs. Pereyra was Miss Emma Beecher, of York, Pa. She met Pereyra for the first time while visiting relatives in New York last July. He then represented himself as a diamond broker. There is no doubt but that he is a Peruvian. He said he was from Lima. He lived well, seemed to have plenty of money and made every one believe he was a wealthy man. An intimacy sprang up between Miss Beecher and Pereyra, which ended in their wedding in York ten days ago. Mr. H. J. Gresly, of York, Miss Beecher's stepfather, who is in business and is well known and popular there, thought Pereyra a thorough gentleman, and there was no objection to the marriage. Pereyra seemed to have plenty of money and gave the officiating minister $50 as a marriage fee.
Pereyra's record is not fully known here, as the dispatch to Marshal Gray gave no particulars further than that the main was wanted in the metropolis. In new York Pereyra stopped at the Lennox House. He also stopped in Philadelphia, at the Lafayette Hotel, and while at Guy's telegraphed there for a trunk he had left, but it was not sent on. He is a short, nicely-built young man, talks with a foreign accent and always dresses well. The police are still on the lookout for him. His watch and chain and trunk are held at Guy's to secure payment of his bill there.

Emma married Felippe Augustas Costa Pereyra on 25 Jan 1885 in York, York, PA.^{1 2} (Felippe Augustas Costa Pereyra was born in Lima, , Lima, PER ¹.)

  Marriage Notes:

They were married Emma's mother's home, Mrs. Henry Gressley, in York, by Rev. Arthur Chilton Powell of St. John's Episcopal Church.

Emma next married Charles Kurtz, son of William Henry Kurtz and Mary Ann Baugher, on 9 Feb 1887 in York: Christ Lutheran Church, York, PA.³ (Charles Kurtz was born on 3 Jun 1857 in York, York, PA,^{3 6 12 13} died on 15 Feb 1927 in York, York, PA ^{6 13} and was buried in York: Prospect Hill Cemetery, York, PA ¹³.)